Canberra Raiders set to return home after NRL eases venue strategy

The Canberra Raiders will return to Canberra Stadium in a fortnight after the ARL Commission cleared the way for NRL clubs to play at their regular home venues from round eight.

The Raiders will now host the St George Illawarra Dragons in front of a small crowd at Canberra Stadium on July 3 with the ACT government easing COVID-19 restrictions.

The crowd figure will likely fall somewhere between 1000-2000 with Raiders officials now deciding how they will allocate the small number of tickets, with members to get the first bite.

The western side of the stadium - the Mal Meninga Grandstand side - is set to be kept as a "clean zone" for players and team officials, with fans let in on the eastern side.

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ARLC chairman Peter V'landys says the return to home grounds would happen under continued tight protocols to protect crowd safety, with each venue required to have a COVID-safe plan.

Canberra will now play at Campbelltown Stadium as the home team for the final time against Manly Warringah on Sunday.

"It's come as really exciting news for us," Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.

"The boys have been handling it very well, we just take it as we need to, we plan for it and just make sure we don't make a big thing about it. We just do what we need to do and play the game. We're fortunate the game is back on, so there is definitely no negativity about it.

"But the fact we could be back here in a couple of weeks playing at home, it gives you a little bit more of a comfortable preparation in regards to not having to travel."

Campbelltown Stadium is one of six stadiums used in the opening phase of the rebooted competition alongside Western Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Melbourne and Central Coast.