The Burleigh Bears welcomed a returning favourite, some new but experienced faces and plenty of young guns when they kicked off their pre-season training last week.
Front-rower Luke Page returns to the Bears after making his NRL debut while they will also get the full-time services of former Titans Jamie Dowling and Chad Redman.
Coach Jim Lenihan is hoping the mixture of players with fulltime experience and enthusiastic youngsters will hopefully breed results for the Bears in 2016.
The process of taking star players from the Colts and Under 19 / Under 20 and developing them into long-term Cup players has been underway for some time, with the debut of many players last season evidence of that.
The promotion of more young, local talent is set to continue in 2016 as the Bears look to build their long-term future.
The Bears Colts success has also seen seven of the team progress to the NYC. Talor Walters, Jack Cook, Dylan Pelo, Daymeric Pelo, Mitch Doring, Sam Ross (all Storm NYC), Jenan Parrish (Cronulla NYC) and Maia Sands (South Sydney NYC) have all earned contracts after successful seasons.
Gains:
Cameron Cullen (Mackay Cutters), Luke Page (St George Illawarra), Kurtis Rowe (West Tigers), Sami Sauiluma (Cronulla), Jeff Lynch (Canberra Raiders), Jamie Dowling (Titans), Chad Redman (Titans), Jamal Fogarty (Titans / Tweed Heads Seagulls), Parahi Wilson (Titans NYC), Connor Carey (Cowboys NYC), Kelly Tate (St George NYC), Josh Berkers (Titans NYC), Daniel Schwass (Titans NYC), Hayden Schwass (Titans NYC)
Losses:
Henare Wells (NZ Warriors), Nafe Seluini (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Ryley Jacks (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Khan Ahwang (Northern Pride), Pele Peletelese (retired), Dimitri Pelo (retired), Corbin Kiernan (France), Zac Mackay (Penrith), Tyron Haynes (retired), Jason Chan (released), Andrew Vela (released), Jaiden Hawkes (released), Connor Toia (released), Shane Gray (released), Francis Veukiso (released)
Where they finished in 2015: 9th
2016 coach: Jim Lenihan
Other clubs:
CQ Capras
Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Norths Devils
Redcliffe Dolphins
Northern Pride
Souths Logan Magpies
Townsville Blackhawks