A rugby league team consists of thirteen players plus four substitutes.
Many of the positions have similar names and requirements to Rugby union positions but there are no 'flankers' in rugby league.
Players on field are divided into "forwards" and "backs".
Forwards are generally chosen for their size and strength, although they are also expected to run with the ball and attack. They are required to do a lot of hard work — making openings for the backs. Most great forwards have been expert in the art of distributing the ball and not being greedy with the ball.
Backs are usually much smaller and faster but a big man who can run can be of great advantage in the backs. Often shorter players lacking in speed, become excellent hookers.
Early in the tackle count the ball is commonly given to forwards to improve field position while not losing possession. After the play the ball, the dummy-half (often the hooker) may choose to run with the ball or pass it to another forward who will try to break the first tackle and gain as many metres as possible. Later in the tackle count the ball typically comes to the backs who being faster than forwards are able to make more metres and are more likely to score, however, passing movements among the backs are more risky than forward play which is why this is not normally attempted on the first tackle.
Five eighth, half back and lock are terms used in Australia and other Southern Hemisphere countries, denoted by (SH)
The same positions are known as standoff, scrumhalf and loose forward in England and other Home Nations. The terms wing three quarters and centre three quarters are sometimes used instead of wing and centre.
This position calls for all-round ability. The fullback is the last-ditch line of defence, standing behind the main line of defence. He must be able to tackle any player who breaks the first line of defence, catch the majority of kicks made by the attacking side, ensuring he retains possession, and also, as he typically positions himself behind the first line of defence, he has a view of the entire line and is expected to give orders to the other defending players, alerting them to fill possible holes and weaknesses in the line. His role in attack is usually as a support player to take an offload and keep the ball alive or to provide an overlap or a different angle of attack in the centre of the field.
Notable fullbacks include: Anthony Minichello, Brett Hodgson, Kris Radlinski, Matt Bowen, Rhys Wesser, Billy Slater and Karmichael Hunt
See also: Fullback
Also known as wingers (SH), of which there are two, numbered 2 and 5; should be the fastest players on the side, with the speed to finish a movement or open the game up along the right or left side of the field.
Wings need to be expert at taking bad passes as they often receive passes from team-mates under pressure. They also need to spread across the back to provide defence. In the last decade or so, also often called upon for the initial few hit-ups after a kick.
Notable wings include: Eric Grothe, Brian Carney, Amos Roberts, Matt King, Hazem El Masri, Matt Utai and Matt Sing
See also: Winger (sport)
There are two, numbered 3 and 4; the centres run along the middle just inside the wings, and work with the wings and stand-off in driving the ball forwards. They have to be dependable, fast and be able to hit top speed quickly. Their ability to handle and pass must be above average and they must be able to tackle. The job of the centre is to upset the opposition and make a breach for the winger to score.
Notable centres include: Steve Ella, Paul Whatuira, Michael Cronin, Keith Senior,Steve Rogers, Mal Meninga, Paul Sykes and Willie Tonga
Also known as a five eighth or pivot(SH) and numbered 6, needs to be able to pass left and right accurately. He needs to be a good and accurate play kicker, needs to have good communication with the halfback and the centre-three-quarters, needs to be able to throw long cut-out balls and have the vision to create something with the outside men. He needs to be quick on his feet and to be strong when running the ball like a back rower. This player must be effective in avoiding tackles and must have good coordination with the wingers and centres. Most are smaller in size but must have some bulk on them.
Notable stand-offs include: Braith Anasta, Benji Marshall, Brett Kenny, Wally Lewis, Preston Campbell, Michael Witt, Matthew Johns, Danny McGuire, Darren Lockyer, Jason Smith and Brad Fittler
Also known as a halfback (SH), numbered 7; like the stand-off, is usually one of the smaller players on the field. The halfback must be quick of mind, nippy and be able to pass well. He must co-ordinate with the stand-off so the ball moves along the line to the wing three-quarters. The halfback is the player who feeds the scrum and runs around to collect it via the hooker. He is usually first receiver at a 'play the ball'.
Notable halfbacks include: Andrew Johns, Peter Sterling, Brent Sherwin, Tim Smith, Stacey Jones, Brett Kimmorley, Ricky Stuart, Craig Gower, Scott Prince, Shaun Edwards and Allan Langer.
The hooker, numbered 9, packs in the middle of the scrum. The hooker's primary role was formerly to strike for the ball with his legs in the scrum and to throw the ball into line-outs. As the code abolished the line-out, and then began to allow uncontested scrummaging, the hookers position, like most forwards, has become far less meaningful. The hooker is still expected to maintain weight and power for the now-rare occasions when a team attempts to win possession against the feed at a scrum.
The hooker, like most forwards is a work horse in defence but is also expected to use his weight and speed for less finesse-based runs into the teeth of opposing tacklers. However the hooker is unlike other forwards because it is the only forward to take on a specialist role outside of scrum play; known as dummy half.
The playmaking duties of the hooker has encouraged some clubs to play a half back in the role. The problem with this is that the hooker stands in the middle of the field with the forwards and has some tough defensive duties to perform. This can leave converted half backs very tired.
Notable Hookers: Danny Buderus, Robert Farah, Daniel Berjak, Steve Walters, Luke Priddis, Jason Hetherington and Benny Elias
There are two props in rugby league, numbered 8 and 10, which packs in to the front of the scrum on either side of the hooker. The two props are usually the two biggest, strongest, heaviest players in the side. When scrums were competitive their strength was key to winning possession. In the modern game their strength is more useful in the tackle or as a ball carrier. However, it is still possible for an alert tight-head prop to help his side win a scrum against the feed by striking for the ball in conjunction with a drive from the rest of the pack. Formerly, striking for the ball was the responsibility of the hooker.
Props run upright with their head up, trying to run into space, keep an arm free for a strong fend, and look for support to offload in contact. They get noticed probably most when the team are in possession coming away from their own try line. They are expected to make “the hard yards”; going forward whilst being gang-tackled by 2, 3 or even 4 of the opposition. Tactically they either will go down quickly when tackled and look for a quick play the ball or when in an attacking position stand up in the tackle and offload to a supporting player to switch the point of attack or create a gap to run through.
Few prop forwards last the full 80 minutes. They are regularly substituted to keep them fresh and powerful. The 4 substitutes on the bench invariably have 3 or even 4 forward replacements to keep momentum high.
Notable props include: Roy Asotasi, Mark O'Meley, Nathan Cayless, Shane Webcke, John Skandalis, Todd Payten, Steve Price, Ben Ross, Michael Vella, Danny Nutley, Jason Stevens, James Evans, Stuart Fielden, Paul Harragon, Petero Civoniceva and Arthur Beetson
Second row forwards are numbered 11 and 12 and make up the second row of the scrum. They are mobile, active players who make a lot of runs and do a lot of tackling, and often set the pace of the game.
Notable second rows include: Nathan Hindmarsh, Andy Farrell, Willie Mason, Glenn Morrison, Andrew Ryan, Steve Simpson, Craig Fitzgibbon, Gorden Tallis and Carl Webb Adrian Morley
Also called the lock forward (SH), numbered 13, is the final row of players in the scrum, he "locks" the two second-rowers.
It is common for the stand-off to run straight at the defensive line directly from a scrum to set up the position for the forwards to re-group, and set up the next play. The loose forward’s role is therefore to peel off quickly from the back of the scrum and make the first tackle. In an attacking scrum he will sometimes pick the ball up himself and go, taking pressure from the scrum half.
A loose forward has the widest scope of roles and responsibilities of any player in the team. As well as co-ordinating the defensive effort in the forwards, in attack he will need to be a superb creative player with the vision and skill to set up play from first receiver from the play the ball, and provide another option from the half backs. Very often the game plan against a particular team can be indicated by the selection of the player for the loose forward position. They are often good leaders.
Notable loose forwards include: Ray Price, Paul Sculthorpe, Daniel Wagon, Ben Kennedy , Tonie Carroll and Shaun Timmins
The dummy-half was introduced through the introduction of the play-the-ball rule, prior to 1907. The dummy-half is responsible for the collection of the ball, on the completion of the play-the-ball. The hooker has become known as dummy-half, perhaps because of his prior duties in the scrum and the line-out. However any player on the field can play the role of the dummy-half, which is often the case given the speed of modern rugby league which moves the position of the dummy-half greatly after every play.
Notable dummy-halves - Danny Buderus (Newcastle), Craig Wing (Sydney).