Game-play characteristics differ between the European Super League and National Rugby League: Implications for coaching and talent recruitment

Objectives: To compare the game-play characteristics between the European Super League (ESL) and the National Rugby League (NRL) competitions. Methods: Eleven team performance indicators were extracted from each match played by every ESL and NRL team over their respective 2016 season. Data was averaged, classified according to competition (Two levels: ESL and NRL), and modelled using univariate and multivariate techniques. Specifically, effect size statistics enabled between group comparisons, while non-metric multidimensional scaling enabled multivariate insights into competition dissimilarity. Results: Seven of the 11 performance indicators showed ‘large’ to ‘very large’ effects. Notably, NRL game-play generated fewer ‘line breaks’, ‘errors’, ‘tackles’ and ‘dummy half runs’ relative to ESL game-play (d >1.2). Despite the NRL generating fewer ‘all runs’ (d = 1.27 [0.57-1.95]), game-play in this competition generated greater ‘all run distances’ relative to the ESL (d = 1.78 [1.02-2.51]). Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed clear multivariate competition dissimilarity, with ESL and NRL teams orienting distinctive positions on the ordination surface. Further, there was a greater spread in the relative positioning of NRL teams compared to ESL teams, indicating greater team dissimilarity within the NRL. Conclusions: Our observations may be explained by differing competition rule interpretations, in addition to differing game strategies and player skill capabilities. Both coaches and talent recruitment managers associated with these competitions may consider our data to assist with the identification and recruitment of suitable players from these respective competitions.