How to Play

NRL Top 13 is a quick rugby league drafting game. You build the best starting 13 you can from 57 historic NRL squads, then simulate a full season to see how far they go. A game takes a few minutes.

▶ Play now

The goal

Assemble a 13-player team with the highest possible Team Power, lock in chemistry between your picks, and win the premiership. The stronger your squad, the further you go — build it well enough and the title is guaranteed.

Drafting your 13

  1. A random historic squad is drawn — a full club roster from a real season (say the 2008 Premiership Manly side).
  2. Pick one player from that squad to add to your team.
  3. Choose where they play. You can slot them into their natural position for full value — or play them somewhere else. Playing a player out of position lowers their rating, so a fullback forced onto the wing isn't as good as a real winger.
  4. A new random squad is drawn for your next pick. Repeat until your starting 13 is full.
  5. You can't pick the same player twice, and once a position is full it's locked.

Chemistry

Players who shared a club, an era, a representative side, or a coach build chemistry, which lifts your Team Power. Stacking links between your picks is the difference between a good team and a great one.

Simulating the season

Once your 13 is locked, the game plays out a full season — 27 rounds plus finals. There's no luck: the result is decided purely by how strong and well-connected your squad is. A weak team misses the eight; an elite one lifts the trophy.

Game modes

🎯 Classic — every player's ratings and overall are visible while you draft. The pure game.

🕶️ Hardcore — names only, no ratings. Trust your rugby league knowledge.

Challenges

📼 The Noughties — only 2000–2009 squads.

📱 Modern Era — only 2015-plus squads.

🥄 Wooden Spoon Wreckers — only teams that finished bottom-3 of their season. Can you build a contender from the strugglers?

Coins & re-rolls

Don't like the squad you've drawn for a pick? Spend re-roll coins to draw a different team for that pick (one re-roll per pick). You earn coins by playing, and you can top up by watching a short ad. Coins only change which squad you're choosing from — they never change a player's rating.

FAQ

Is this an official NRL game? No. It's an independent, fan-made project (see below).

Why don't I see player stats? Detailed career stats are still being verified, so they're hidden for now while we make sure they're correct.

Is my progress saved? Your best team and coins are saved in your browser on your device.

▶ Play now

NRL Top 13 is an independent, fan-made game and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Rugby League (NRL), the Australian Rugby League Commission, the Rugby League Players Association, or any NRL club. All club and player names are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only. · Privacy Policy