Written by
Chris Flavell
Last time updated
09/30/2024
If you love your NRL then you’ll also love NRL fantasy betting. The best NRL fantasy betting sites have a range of different leagues to enjoy. We have tried and tested the options to help your search for the best.
Our fantasy betting site picks are compiled after researching the top choices. We discuss the factors that make them the best in this piece and also cover everything you need to know about NRL fantasy betting.
Draftstars Is the Best Fantasy NRL Site
Since NRL is so popular in Australia, most of the fantasy sites have it on board. However, we strongly believe that Draftstars is the best.
First of all, they offer a fantastic range of fantasy competitions and several exciting game modes.
Moreover, the site is well organised and comes with excellent navigation, so even complete beginners could find their way around. More experienced players will be pleased to hear that you can get involved at high-stake NRL fantasy contests with Draftstars. On the other hand, rookies and casual players can settle with low-stake or even free NRL leagues.
All of the things mentioned above are available on mobile as well. Draftstars offers native apps for both iOS and Android devices.
Another bookie worth considering, especially if you like to combine fantasy and regular sports betting, is PlayUp. Draftstars and PlayUp are part of the same organisation, which means PlayUp customers can also enjoy Draftstars access.
We listed them because they are one of the best betting sites in Australia for general sports betting too. This means they are ideal for punters who want both types of betting. Discover more with our PlayUp review.
One of the reasons we picked Draftstars as the best NRL fantasy betting site is because they also have one of the top betting apps.
Placing bets is quick and easy when you’re on the move, thanks to the app, which is available for both Android and iOS and is simple to navigate. They offer many NRL fantasy leagues, including a special offering for betting on the NRL Grand Final.
The Draftstars app is available for iOS and Android and takes just a few minutes to register and place a bet. The app also looks great and is simple to navigate.
NRL Fantasy Strategy
Winning fantasy betting requires a lot of sports knowledge, potentially even more than getting classic NRL betting right. That’s why our fantasy sports experts have provided these tips. Keep in mind that all this is general advice that you can use with any operator and for every NRL season.
Don’t experiment early in the draft – Draft your star players as early as possible. It may be tempting to draft some of the rising stars in the first round. But it would be best to stick with proven talent at the beginning. Later on you can try to experiment with different players.
Look at fixtures – Always consider which teams are set to play each other in the coming weeks. Knowing which teams and players have easier fixtures can help you decide about team selection.
Analyse head-to-head matchups – This is especially important if you’re playing daily or weekly leagues. Try finding the high-scoring games, and in that way locate the top-performing players. Even the best scorer probably won’t do much against the league’s top defence. It’s all about context when constructing a winning fantasy NRL team.
Competition Types
Most of the operators offer several game modes, which include contests that last a single day or even an entire season. Regardless of the length, you can choose between a few different league types.
It all depends on the operator, but you usually have a few NRL fantasy modes that are available everywhere. We will shortly explain how they work down below. Note that these are available only at commercial operators, while official NRL Fantasy football offers just one basic way to play.
50/50 Contests – If you finish in the upper half of the leaderboard, you get your stake doubled.
Guaranteed Contest – As long as there is a minimum number of contenders, operator guarantees a fixed prize pool. These are usually the highest-paid contests.
Head-to-Head – You compete against a single opponent. The one who drafts a better scoring team win.
Custom Games – Invite only your friends and play a fantasy NRL contest against each other. This time you pick the rules!
Fantasy NRL Scoring
Scoring in fantasy NRL works the same as with any other fantasy sport. You draft a team of real-life players, and then you score points based on their performance in actual games. Every action they do is worth a certain amount of fantasy points.
The way those points are calculated may be slightly different from operator to operator. But in most cases, it’s very similar to what we have listed below. It’s very important to read this before start playing since the scoring rules should guide your draft decisions.
Take a look at the list below to learn more about how NRL fantasy scoring works.
Try = 8 points
Goal = 2 points
Field Goal = 5 points
Try assist = 5 points
Line Break = 4 points
Line Break assist = 2 points
Tackle = 1 point
Tackle break = 3 points
Missed tackles = -2 point
Offload = 2 points
Run Meters Gained = 0.1 points
Kick Metres Gained= 0.05 points
Error = -2 points
NRL Fantasy Draft
The draft is probably the most exciting part of any fantasy contest. After you pick the competition, the draft will start. You’ll get a salary cap, which can widely differ depending on the operator. But the basic principle is the same – you have to gather the best possible team with the given amount of salary money. Don’t worry if you missed a chance to get all the players you like during the draft. You can also trade players at different times.
If all this feels like to much work, note that most of the operators have the auto-draft option. In that case, the computer will pick the team for you.
Regardless of the draft rules, the most important thing you have to do before picking a team is to prepare properly. We can’t stress enough how a well-thought strategy is important at this stage. Here are a few NRL fantasy draft tips to help you along.
NRL Fantasy Draft Tips
Don’t reach for a player earlier than you need. Even if you like him a lot, take the superstars first and then build the rest of the team.
Always have a backup picks in mind, since it will happen that other contenders take players you’re aiming for.
Read and learn all the draft rules! This may seem basic, but there are a lot of things written in small letters.
Focus on the low depth positions early in the draft.
Don’t take CTW guns early because they are just too inconsistent. Leave them for 3rd round or later.
NRL Fantasy Team – Who Do I Have to Draft?
NRL fantasy league operators have slightly different rules on which types of players you have to draft. But the general rule is that you have to get players from at least two different teams and cover all positions. This means that you can’t get only high-scoring offensive players. Instead, you have to diversify and look at all the aspects of the game.
Here is what your NRL fantasy team will probably look like:
2 wingers
1 centre
1 half
2 second row forwards
1 hooker
2 front-row forwards
You’ll notice that there is a position written on the side of each player’s name. However, some of them are listed as Dual Position Players (DPP). It means that they can cover more than one position, which makes them very valuable. Always try getting at least some DPP’s, since they give you much more flexibility.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when picking players for each position.
Hooker – Always look for a player who will play long minutes (potentially the full game). Also, it would be best to get a creative hooker who can score you some tackle points as well.
Forward – Similar as with hookers, always try to find high scoring players. Forwards will probably score you the most points, so don’t try to cut costs here.
Halfbacks – When picking halves, you’re searching for someone who is capable of assisting and scoring a try. However, don’t skip a player if he’s a reliable goal kicker.
Backs – This is where you want to have someone who is known as a high-workload player. The best-case scenario would include someone who can also grab a try.
Trade Players
Most of the NRL fantasy football operators let you trade players to improve your team. Keep in mind that different operators have different trade rules. For example, some of them will let you trade even if the player you offer is less valuable than the one you want to get. Draftstars, on the other hand, demands that your current player always has to be more valuable. The same goes for the number of trades you can make, so always read the rules before playing.
When deciding whether you should draft, always keep in mind that there are two main reasons to exchange players. You either aspire to strengthen a certain part of the team, or you’re trying to get the better overall player for a small price. In the first case, focus solely on the stats and research. However, if you want to speculate, don’t be afraid to listen to your guts and take a gamble. It’s the only way you can find hidden gems!
How to Start Fantasy NRL
The great thing about fantasy sports, in general, is that they’re really easy to learn. In case this is your first-time playing fantasy NRL, just follow the guide below and you’ll be ready in no time. Note that fantasy sports are 100% legal in all parts of Australia, meaning that regardless of if you’re betting in VIC, QLD or NSW, there is nothing to worry about.
We suggest to all beginners to start with some of the free contests at first and then move to paid leagues. If you’re into a quick game, note that Draftstars offers countless free NRL DFS contests. Here is a short guide on how to start with fantasy NRL.
NRL Fantasy Guide
Pick a fantasy operator you like
Register an account
Pick an NRL contest you like
Draft your team
Trade players if you want
Follow the leaderboard once the contest has started
Draftstars vs Official Fantasy NRL
NRL offers its official fantasy leagues on their site. They come with a few important perks, such as fresh news, tips and official NRL Fantasy mobile app. However, if we look at the bigger picture, it’s clear that Draftstars has a much more exciting offer. It’s even more tempting if you’re not a complete die-hard NRL fan who is ready to spend hours every day on playing fantasy.
In case you just want to enjoy some fantasy NRL from time to time, Draftstars is a clear choice. The official NRL offers only long-term leagues that require season-long commitment.
On the other hand, Draftstars is focused on daily fantasy, where you draft a new team every day, play a single game and know the result of the contest right away! It’s even more convenient if you play it on the Draftstars mobile app.
Another thing that goes to Draftstars’s favour is that they offer both paid and free leagues, while official NRL Fantasy has only free play mode. That’s why Draftstars has much better cash prizes for winning players. Plus, in case you get bored, try some of the several available contest types. With the official NRL, you only get to play one basic game mode.
Why We Think Draftstars Is Better
Daily fantasy NRL – no season-long commitments
Great mobile app
Both free and paid competitions
Higher cash prizes
Better customer support
More game types
Faster gameplay
Other Fantasy Sports
Once you get to grips with fantasy betting on the NRL then you’ll find the process is very similar for other fantasy sports. Our number one choice, Draftstars, offers a whole range of different fantasy sports that you can take a look at. We have detailed guides on many of them as well.
When it comes to fantasy NRL betting sites in Australia, there is no better place than Draftstars. They are our top choice due to their excellent prize pools, choice of tournaments, and their impressive betting app.
However, for those interested in mixing fantasy and traditional sports betting should look into PlayUp. They have competitive betting but with the added choice of access to Draftstars as well.
You can play fantasy NRL at a few places in Australia. However, we think that Draftstars is by far the top choice. Check out we think they are the the best.
We have rated and reviewed the top choices and think that Draftstars is the best NRL fantasy betting site in Australia. Another option to consider is PlayUp if you want to combine both fantasy and standard sports betting.
What is NRL fantasy?
NRL fantasy is a relatively new way of wagering on your favourite NRL games. Here you draft a team of real players and score points based on their performance on the field. Take a look at the article above to learn more about fantasy NRL.
Is NRL fantasy free?
Yes, it can be free. Most of the operators are offering a plethora of free fantasy NRL contests. If you decide to take the next step at some point, note that there are also numerous contests with buy-ins ranging from $2 to a few hundred dollars.
How does NRL fantasy scoring work?
In NRL fantasy, you earn points based on the performance of your team members in real-life games. Different operators count points differently, but we have listed the most common NRL fantasy scoring model in the article above, so don’t miss to give it a look.
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