Not only the best Rugby League game yet, but also one of the best Rugby games, in either code.
Graphically, it's now easy to sneer at, but, for it's time, it was easily above average, and, even now, there are aspects which I look at and think; "that's a nice touch, I wish more sports games had that." For example; players can be seen breathing (their chests rise up and down), and they look around when they hold the ball (over their shoulder at defenders, and left and right to check for team mates to pass to). The player models, while not jaw dropping, are certainly adequate, and provide perfectly believable representations of human form, with only the faces looking somewhat ugly when the camera gets close. Two graphical aspects which are impressive (both when the game was released, and even now) are the animation, and the stadiums; the player animation is a major aspect that made the game seem to look good. Even though there was not a high level of detail, from the distance that the camera was positioned, the excellent and fluent animations made the game's visuals seem almost impressive. The stadiums, also, are accurately recreated and provide good match surroundings, although they do suffer from the usuql '2D crowd' issue. The lighting is a mixed bag; on normal, sunny matches, there are nice shadows underneath players and the ball, but during night games, or overcast weather, this turn into blobs which are an ugly contrast to the slick dynamic shadows.
Onto the gameplay, which is easily one of the strongest aspects of 'Rugby League'. It plays out a fluent and believable game of rugby; the running control is precise, the other controls react far better than in other rugby games, and real strategy is rewarded. The only issue I have is with defense, which is slightly too difficult, adding time to the learning curve, although mastering this is more rewarding than it might have otherwise been.
The sound is not particularly notable; the commentary is average, there is no licensed music, and there isn't a great deal of sound coming from the players, but the ref voice that can be heard is a nice addition, and the crowd sounds work well, with volume swells at appropriate moments.
The longevity of the game is excellent; users are provided with a range of leagues, teams and unlockables, as well as extensive customisation options, if you get bored of the stock teams, or just want to update them.
Overall, this game barely put a foot wrong, and is easily the best Rugby game of the last 5 years, as well as one of the all-time best. If you are a fan of either code, then this game is a must have, and, even if you are new to the sport, this is a good introduction, as nothing is overly complicated.
N.B. Final score is time relative. If this were a new release, I would rate it 7.5, as the graphics are not what you would expect from any modern game.