Crossword Genius

Reforming -- as ruler will be? (5,8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

going straight

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'reforming' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether this works.

'ruler will be?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'ruler' could be 'r' (r is abbreviation for rex) and 'r' is located in the answer.
'be?' could be 'go' (going is a kind of being) and 'go' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'as' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for going straight that I've seen before include "Giving up criminal activities" , "avoiding bird" , "Crow should be" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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