The Rising takes on hosts NSW Country Eagles on Saturday at Wade Park, a game both Hedger and the entire NRC is looking forward to given Melbourne is currently the undefeated competition leaders and the Eagles sit second.

But Hedger was under no illusions his table-topping Rising will be up against it when faced with an “experienced and mature” Eagles side come kick-off at 3pm tomorrow.

“It’s going to be a tough match, obviously being a top-of-the-table game against NSW Country in rugby heartland,” Hedger said.

“We know we’re venturing into enemy territory.”

Hedger spent three years in Orange as a development officer with NSW Rugby between 1997 and 1999 and played with Emus throughout that time.

An avid believer in the NRC concept, Hedger said his side is lapping up the new law variations adopted in this year’s national championship.

So much so, the Rising has scored 223 points in four games this season.

That’s 96 more points than their nearest attacking opponent, the Eagles.

“We think we’re known for scoring lots of tries,” Hedger said, Rising star Telusa Veainu and Country flyer Andrew Kellaway are both tied atop the NRC’s try-scoring list with six tries in four games.

“I think we’ve averaged more tries per game than any other team in the competition.

“We’re embracing the new NRC law variations developed for more attacking rugby, and we’re doing so by maximising our attacking opportunities. 

“It’s built on a strong set piece. We’ve been playing quite a physical brand of rugby.”

And while attacking rugby is the force behind the NRC’s inception in 2014, Hedger said the fabric of the game hasn’t changed.

The number of opportunities to attack, however, have.

“If you’re 40 metres out and get a penalty no one is taking the points anymore,” he said, with penalty goals worth two points and conversions now three.

“So the opportunities to attack in your own A zone become greater; there’s more scrums and more line-out opportunities.

“In a Super Rugby game you probably get four set piece opportunities in your A zone, whereas in the NRC we’re getting 10 or 12.”

The Rising take on the NSW Country Eagles from 3pm at Wade Park tomorrow.