By George Clarke in Sydney

Ricky Stuart says he still doesn’t understand the NRL’s interpretations of obstruction rulings, despite sitting on a committee designed to crack down on players milking penalties.

Coach Stuart claimed the NRL had abandoned its no tolerance approach just three rounds into the season, after his Canberra side had a try chalked off in the 20th minute of Sunday’s 40-12 loss at Manly.

Seb Kris broke the Sea Eagles’ line and touched down for what appeared to have been the game’s first try.

But a bunker ruling called play back after minimal contact between Canberra prop Corey Horsburgh and Sea Eagles halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.

Manly captain Cherry-Evans initiated contact with Horsburgh and then raced after the play.

Raiders lock Morgan Smithies was hit by Haumole Olakau’atu after passing the ball that led to Kris’ try.

Canberra then conceded a penalty for the contact with Cherry-Evans, Horsburgh was sin-binned soon after for a professional foul, and while the prop was off Manly chalked up 22 unanswered points.

Stuart and other prominent coaches were part of a committee including NRL administrators who met to discuss rules over the summer.

But he said the interpretations agreed upon had “gone out the window”.

He said Sunday’s game proved his trip to Sydney for the rules summit was a “waste of two days”.

“After 20 minutes, we had no football, and we got a set around halfway, and we score a wonderful try,” Stuart said.

“It’s really difficult coaching when you don’t know rules, you don’t know interpretations, because I’ve got no idea.

“We wanted to make defenders defend this year.

“This year, that was what the rule was when Wayne (Bennett) and Ivan (Cleary) and I sat down with Ashley (Klein), Andrew (Abdo) and Graham (Annesley).

“But that’s gone out the window.”

Stuart seemed to infer that the hit on Smithies would be officiated differently if he was a playmaker.

“My ballplayer got hit after he passed,” Stuart said.

“If it was a couple of other players, I know exactly where the penalty would have gone. It was my bloke. But that whole game changed there.

“But something’s changed this week, and I’ve got an idea (why).”