NRL's new ruck rules open door for Canberra Raiders star Josh Hodgson to go on attack

That opens the door for star hooker Josh Hodgson to use his craftiness around the ruck and make an already potent Green Machine even more dangerous.

Especially with a couple of running halves on either side of him in State of Origin star Jack Wighton and England international George Williams.

Along with shifting back to just one referee, the ARL Commission has also amended the rules around the ruck to try and reduce the wrestle.

The referee will be able to reset the tackle count rather than award a penalty for ruck infringements.

They'll still be able to give penalties and will sin bin players for repeated infringements or professional fouls.

It's hoped it will reduce the wrestling that's become such a prominent part of the game.

That could lead to more attacking football, which is where having one of the best hookers in the world comes in.

Hodgson will have more time and space to work his magic.

Stuart has been vocal in his support of the changes and has urged his fellow coaches to get on board.

He hoped it would lead to a more attractive game and said anyone who didn't adapt to the new rules would do a lot more tackling.

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

"It will open up for a little bit more attack if it's interpreted correctly," Stuart told The Canberra Times.

"What the referee's going to need is everybody around him to do their job and to be consistently strong on what the Commission want them to adjudicate on and that is to clean up the play-the-ball."

There has been some concern it introduces another discretionary call for officials, with the referee to decide when to call six again and when to award a penalty.

But Stuart felt it was clear cut.

"I don't think it is a grey area," he said.

"I just think when you've got people at home see the indiscretion at the ruck it's the officials' job to jump onto that so we don't keep reading about it, we don't keep hearing about it and it's something that I support the Commission in regards to trying to eliminate."

Stuart has been happy with how his Raiders have been training since they returned from the coronavirus lockdown.

The unbeaten Green Machine will face the Melbourne Storm, probably in Melbourne - although the venues for rounds three and four won't be announced until early this week - on May 30.

Canberra looks set to play their home games at Campbelltown Stadium until at least July, despite the ACT government giving Canberra Stadium the all clear.

Melbourne also started the 2020 NRL season with two wins before the COVID-19 virus forced it to be suspended.

It will be the perfect test to see how the Raiders have returned from the enforced break.

Stuart said it didn't really matter who they played. It only mattered they were back.

He spoke for all players from all clubs when he said everyone was excited at the prospect of the competition resuming.

"With the break the players have had I don't think they really care who they're playing they just want to play a game of football because they had a long hard off-season, only got to play two games and then we had six or seven weeks off," Stuart said.

"I know they'll be real keen to get out and play."

NRL ROUND THREE

May 30: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at 7.35pm. Venue TBA.