NRL Grid - Ranking over Rarity

This article explains how scoring works at NRLGrid.com. The main goal is to score as low as you can, but what counts as a good score changes every day. Sometimes, a score of 30 might be great, but on another day, you might need to score as low as 6 to be among the top 50.

Understanding the Scoring System

In many grid-based games, the score changes based on how often a player is selected throughout the day, known as a rarity score. This can make it tough to keep track of your score as it can go up and down throughout the day.

At NRL Grid, we prefer a more stable scoring system that keeps things consistent. We want the same grid to have the same score at 7:01am compared to 7:01 pm. Here's how it works:

How Player Rankings Work

We have an algorithm that ranks every player in the NRL. It's based on factors like how many games a player has played, when they retired, and how often they've been chosen in past grids. These player rankings are then compared to all the correct player rankings for a particular grid to determine a score. So, if you want to aim for lower scores, look for players who have played fewer games and retired a while ago.

Let's Break It Down with Examples

Grid with Few Correct Choices: Imagine a grid where you can only choose from a few options, like "Played for Manly" and "Played for QLD," with just 5 correct choices. In this case, the scores can range from 9.91 to 32.87. For example, Steve Bell is the best choice with a score of 9.91.

Grid with Many Correct Choices: Now, consider a grid where you have lots of options, like "Played for Brisbane" and "Played for QLD," with 62 correct choices. Here, the scores have a narrower range, between 0.19 and 3.87. In this case, Peter Ryan is the top pick with a score of 0.19.

The Winning Strategy

In both situations, Steve Bell and Peter Ryan are the best choices. So, instead of just looking at the score, focus on finding players with low scores within the range for each grid.