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Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell.

The 32nd Big League Annual features in-depth analysis, statistics and colour from the 2018 season, and includes premiership, state and international records since 1908.

In the special issue, rugby league statistician David Middleton names his top five players of the season and team of the year with the emergence of youth and talent highlighting a changing of the guard happening within the game.

Sydney Roosters pair James Tedesco and Latrell Mitchell lit up the competition in 2018 and share top billing with Dally M medallist Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Damien Cook and NFL hopeful Valentine Holmes.

"The most significant thing is the changing of the guard, the top five are different to the usual selections," Middleton, who compiled the Annual, told NRL.com.

"There is no Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston or Billy Slater's amongst them. There is a sense of a new breed coming through with these guys bringing their careers to a close at what feels like a similar time.

"It's not contrived in any way, it's what's happening in the game."

The cover of the 2018 Big League Annual
The cover of the 2018 Big League Annual ©Supplied

The departure of Holmes from the code generated widespread news in November and re-iterated that there is no quiet time in rugby league.

"The amount of issues that were still going when we went to print, the David Klemmer situation was ongoing, Cameron Smith still hadn't re-signed and even since then, this has been the most unprecedented offseason we've ever had," Middleton said.

"There's been so much change in playing personnel, coaching personnel and negative headlines through player misbehaviour and now the Cronulla drama. I've never seen an off season with so much news."

Each copy covers an extensive six-page club-by-club analysis of the year that was, along with individual and team records, award winners plus more.

Also included for the first time is a look back at the inaugural NRL Holden Women's Premiership in September and State of Origin fixture at North Sydney Oval in June.

"There's a much more in-depth coverage of the women's game than there's ever been before," Middleton said.

"There's posters of the interstate teams, Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns teams. The women's game was a real feature of 2018 and the rise of it has delivered a lot more coverage in the magazine.

"We've also been able to freshen up the content with a lot more photos. The game is based on colour and vibrant so wanted to use a lot more this year."

The Annual Big League review is available at newsagents across Australia and New Zealand.

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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