diff --git a/dev/tools/controllerbuilder/template/controller/controller.go b/dev/tools/controllerbuilder/template/controller/controller.go
index 6d2e258193..677042dc34 100644
--- a/dev/tools/controllerbuilder/template/controller/controller.go
+++ b/dev/tools/controllerbuilder/template/controller/controller.go
@@ -159,8 +159,6 @@ func (a *Adapter) Find(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
 }
 
 func (a *Adapter) Create(ctx context.Context, createOp *directbase.CreateOperation) error {
-	u := createOp.GetUnstructured()
-
 	log := klog.FromContext(ctx).WithName(ctrlName)
 	log.V(2).Info("creating {{.ProtoResource}}", "name", a.id.External)
 	mapCtx := &direct.MapContext{}
@@ -196,12 +194,10 @@ func (a *Adapter) Create(ctx context.Context, createOp *directbase.CreateOperati
 		return mapCtx.Err()
 	}
 	status.ExternalRef = &a.id.External
-	return setStatus(u, status)
+	return createOp.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, nil)
 }
 
 func (a *Adapter) Update(ctx context.Context, updateOp *directbase.UpdateOperation) error {
-	u := updateOp.GetUnstructured()
-
 	log := klog.FromContext(ctx).WithName(ctrlName)
 	log.V(2).Info("updating {{.ProtoResource}}", "name", a.id.External)
 	mapCtx := &direct.MapContext{}
@@ -243,7 +239,7 @@ func (a *Adapter) Update(ctx context.Context, updateOp *directbase.UpdateOperati
 	if mapCtx.Err() != nil {
 		return mapCtx.Err()
 	}
-	return setStatus(u, status)
+	return updateOp.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, nil)
 }
 
 func (a *Adapter) Export(ctx context.Context) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error) {
@@ -290,23 +286,4 @@ func (a *Adapter) Delete(ctx context.Context, deleteOp *directbase.DeleteOperati
 		return false, fmt.Errorf("waiting delete {{.ProtoResource}} %s: %w", a.id.External, err)
 	}
 	return true, nil
-}
-
-func setStatus(u *unstructured.Unstructured, typedStatus any) error {
-	status, err := runtime.DefaultUnstructuredConverter.ToUnstructured(typedStatus)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("error converting status to unstructured: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	old, _, _ := unstructured.NestedMap(u.Object, "status")
-	if old != nil {
-		status["conditions"] = old["conditions"]
-		status["observedGeneration"] = old["observedGeneration"]
-		status["externalRef"] = old["externalRef"]
-	}
-
-	u.Object["status"] = status
-
-	return nil
-}
-`
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pkg/controller/direct/secretmanager/secret_controller.go b/pkg/controller/direct/secretmanager/secret_controller.go
index f475789bf6..d7b0e6553b 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/direct/secretmanager/secret_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/direct/secretmanager/secret_controller.go
@@ -173,9 +173,7 @@ func ComputeAnnotations(secret *krm.SecretManagerSecret) map[string]string {
 	return annotations
 }
 
-func (a *Adapter) Create(ctx context.Context, createOp *directbase.CreateOperation) error {
-	u := createOp.GetUnstructured()
-
+func (a *Adapter) Create(ctx context.Context, op *directbase.CreateOperation) error {
 	log := klog.FromContext(ctx).WithName(ctrlName)
 	log.V(2).Info("creating Secret", "name", a.id.External)
 	mapCtx := &direct.MapContext{}
@@ -212,7 +210,8 @@ func (a *Adapter) Create(ctx context.Context, createOp *directbase.CreateOperati
 	}
 	status.ExternalRef = &a.id.External
 	status.Name = created.Name
-	return setStatus(u, status)
+
+	return op.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, nil)
 }
 
 func topicsEqual(desired []*krm.TopicRef, actual []*secretmanagerpb.Topic) bool {
@@ -228,9 +227,7 @@ func topicsEqual(desired []*krm.TopicRef, actual []*secretmanagerpb.Topic) bool
 	return reflect.DeepEqual(sets.List(externalsDesired), sets.List(externalsActual))
 }
 
-func (a *Adapter) Update(ctx context.Context, updateOp *directbase.UpdateOperation) error {
-	u := updateOp.GetUnstructured()
-
+func (a *Adapter) Update(ctx context.Context, op *directbase.UpdateOperation) error {
 	log := klog.FromContext(ctx).WithName(ctrlName)
 	log.V(2).Info("updating Secret", "name", a.id.External)
 	mapCtx := &direct.MapContext{}
@@ -284,7 +281,7 @@ func (a *Adapter) Update(ctx context.Context, updateOp *directbase.UpdateOperati
 		return mapCtx.Err()
 	}
 	status.Name = updated.Name
-	return setStatus(u, status)
+	return op.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, nil)
 }
 
 func (a *Adapter) Export(ctx context.Context) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error) {
@@ -320,22 +317,3 @@ func (a *Adapter) Delete(ctx context.Context, deleteOp *directbase.DeleteOperati
 	log.V(2).Info("successfully deleted Secret", "name", a.id.External)
 	return true, nil
 }
-
-func setStatus(u *unstructured.Unstructured, typedStatus any) error {
-	status, err := runtime.DefaultUnstructuredConverter.ToUnstructured(typedStatus)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("error converting status to unstructured: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	old, _, _ := unstructured.NestedMap(u.Object, "status")
-	if old != nil {
-		status["conditions"] = old["conditions"]
-		status["observedGeneration"] = old["observedGeneration"]
-		status["externalRef"] = old["externalRef"]
-		status["name"] = old["name"]
-	}
-
-	u.Object["status"] = status
-
-	return nil
-}