Fantasy NRL: Get picking to make a dream come true

Warrior Shaun Johnson will be one of the top-money players in this year's Fantasy NRL game. Photo / Brett Phibbs

It’s time to test your league knowledge in our new-look game

Dream Team's Fantasy NRL is back, new and improved, and ready to test your knowledge of the greatest league competition in the world.

This year's game has been revamped to include a larger squad size, more scoring categories, multi-position player eligibility and new ways to compete against your mates.

Playing the game is also made easier. Register at dreamteam.co.nz, come up with a name for your team and you will receive a fantasy budget to create your own squad of 25 players.

Each NRL player is assigned a dollar value based on his past ability to score fantasy points. Your challenge is to build a squad that combines the best players from each club to form the ultimate fantasy team. You can assemble a starting 17 that includes Greg Inglis, Shaun Johnson and Manu Vatuvei - the choice is yours.

Your Fantasy team will receive fantasy points based on the real-life performances of your selected players. Fantasy points will be awarded to players for things such as tackles made, tries scored and several new categories, including try assists, line break assists, 40/20s and kick metres.

Players lose fantasy points for being sent off, making handling errors and missing tackles.

Your Dream Team will automatically be competing with all other registered teams for the overall Fantasy NRL title which comes with a first prize of $2000. There are also cash prizes every week for the best-performing teams.

This season's game has new features and improved functionality.

We have made the game simple to understand for beginners with advice on gameplay throughout each page. You can manage your team via your mobile device and even follow them via our live match centre.

This year there is no limit on players from one team; plus we have implemented a new rolling lockout that allows you to make changes to your squad right up until the kickoff of each fixture.

You'll be asked to compile a squad of 25 players, the largest squad size we've ever offered for the game, to give you more flexibility and strategy as the season progresses.

Further flexibility can be found with the new ability of a player to play in two different positions on your team. Sick of Corey Parker playing in the front row for the Broncos while you start him in the back row? Now he can be selected in either position within your team.

Ever wanted to have your fantasy team compete with your mates as if it's your own tournament? Create a head-to-head league with 10 or 18 of your friends and, at the end of the season, your league will automatically take part in its own playoff system to decide your title winner.

A note of advice: take care to mix established, reliable players with those who you think will break out this season and who come with a cheaper price tag.

You can make an unlimited number of changes to your squad before the first round is over, so keep monitoring team injuries, signings and selections to make sure you're ready to roll come March 5.

Alongside the Fantasy game, we're hosting another, more traditional game, to help you follow the action.

NRL Tipping is the most popular rugby league tipping game in New Zealand and is as simple as picking the winner and margin of each game.