This yearbook documents the significant transition in rugby league during 1996, marking the sport's shift to a summer season and the advent of the Super League era. Authored by David Howes and Raymond Fletcher, this publication serves as a comprehensive record of the sport's evolving landscape. It captures the immediate impact of these changes, providing insights into the teams, players, and the strategic shifts occurring within rugby league at a pivotal moment in its history. The yearbook aims to be the definitive reference for this transformative year.

As a yearbook from a specific year, this publication is primarily valued as a historical record and reference material for enthusiasts and historians of rugby league. Its focus on the transition to summer rugby and the introduction of the Super League positions it as a document capturing a critical juncture in the sport's development. The authority of such a yearbook stems from its detailed contemporary account of events, teams, and player performances during a period of significant change.