New coaches, club switches and fresh planning abound after the most active post-season in memory since the StoreLocal Hospital Cup grand final.
Three of the nine Premier Rugby clubs have already announced a new head coach for 2026 while a fourth is set to be unveiled next week.
Matt Cockbain (GPS), Adrian Thompson (Souths) and Rex Tapuai (Sunnybank) are the new men in charge while University of Queensland will also have a new head coach with Elton Berrange leaving the role.
The changes are just as significant in the front offices of rugby clubs and for Colts and women's programs across the competition.
One of the biggest switches is that of former Queensland Reds coach Phil Mooney, the Colts premiership coach at Wests this season. Without the money to pay him any longer as Director of Rugby at Wests Bulldogs, he has been snapped up to lead the program at Norths as Director of Rugby.
It will be a massive change of scenery for Mooney, who had been around Wests from birth. His late father Paul's pioneering ignited Wests-Toowong as a powerhouse in the juniors with the inaugural Under-19s premiership in 1961.
There have been moves aplenty at Wests. Sio Kite, no longer in charge of first grade at GPS, is the new Colts coach while former Red Mason Gordon is making an admirable step up as his assistant.
Luke Samoa is stepping up as coach of the women's team with stalwart former Wallaroo Liz Patu is his assistant.
As well as going with a new head coach in 2026, UQ will also have a new General Manager in place.
Jason Greenhalgh's successful tenure has come to an end. He negotiated COVID seasons, was at the helm for premiership seasons, delivered bumper annual rugby lunches and drove savvy fundraising projects.
A former Wallaby is believed to be the frontrunner for the position.
Former Australian Under-20s coach Thompson has a premiership with Easts in 1999 in his CV. He takes over from Rama Chand and will lead an all-new group of assistant coaches in Albert Vulivuli, Paul Keene and Ben Armstrong.
It won't seem the same without Ray Thomas on the coaching scene. The former Souths, Gold Coast Breakers and Bond University assistant has been a coaching constant for more than three decades when you include his service at The Southport School.
At GPS, the club is putting faith in club legend Matt Cockbain to lead a revival. The 1999 World Cup-winning Wallaby will bring his coaching expertise to the first grade role.
Former first grade coach Shane Arnold is stepping back into the fray as an assistant while James Pritchard, the decorated former Canadian international, will guide skill improvements as he did this year.
The Gallopers are serious about rebooting their women's program and have installed Manny Cole-Manolis as their new Premier Women's head coach.
He led a successful three-year build in results and ambition for 2025 minor premiers Wests just 6km down the road.
At Sunnybank, departing coach Rob Roiri has left Tapuai with some improved foundations to build on.
Tapuai is a club legend with well over 100 first grade games to his name over more than a decade. His time more recently in guiding the Colts has given him a strong connection with younger players who will be at the centre of the club's trajectory from here.
And we haven't even started talking about player movements. Stay tuned.
