The New Zealand international has revealed players were terrified of breaking the strict protocols put in place to ensure the NRL season could be played, and said not being able to interact with fans in public was one of the toughest elements of the bubble.

Those within last year's NRL bubble were mainly confined to their homes between playing and training.

Supermarket visits were allowed, but safe distance had to be maintained from the general public to avoid the risk of COVID-19 seeping into the league.

"There was a lot of pressure, having to adjust from all that stuff," Nicoll-Klokstad said.

"There's still people around that might recognise you or want to come up and chat and you saw what happened with players that were a little bit unsure, and they got stung, and you're just not wanting that to happen to you and your club.

"That blurred the lines a little bit in terms of getting photos with the fans. They said if you were 1.5m away from them that was fine, something along those lines.

"It was pretty tough to have to do that to a lot of fans, especially the kids. Any kid that supports any club, seeing someone from their team walking around, that was the best for me growing up.

"And to have to do that was a bit harsh in my eyes but that's just what we needed to do

"The only time you're able to switch off is when you're inside the four walls of your house."

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Speaking in Canberra last week, Australian Rugby League chair Peter V'landys said he was confident strict biosecurity measures would not be required in 2021, unless there was another serious outbreak.

V'landys said that would mean clubs could travel again on commercial flights, and stay overnight before and after away games.

Should there be another outbreak, V'landys said the league wouldn't hesitate in tightening COVID-19 restrictions which would mean putting players back on chartered flights and same-day travel.

The NRL is closely monitoring Victoria's latest COVID-19 outbreak, and how it could affect its reigning premier, the Melbourne Storm.

Seven Storm players have been scratched from next weekend's All Stars game, which will feature Nicoll-Klokstad, while the club's trial against the New Zealand Warriors which was to be played in Queensland next Saturday has been cancelled.

Canberra will play a trial against the Sydney Roosters in Queanbeyan on February 27, and coach Ricky Stuart will have almost a full-strength squad to choose from with captain Jarrod Croker (shoulder) the only man in the casualty ward.

English star Josh Hodgson will also potentially be in line for selection after missing most of last season with a knee injury.

"When he's back in the team you really understand what you are missing, in certain games last year just his leadership and his control," Nicoll-Klokstad said.

"He definitely makes his presence felt when he is in the squad, just with his control, how calm he is and just his leadership around the ball, it's something that you can't really take for granted."