Two big coaching announcements have been made in the past few weeks with Jed Webster to return as Hillston’s women’s coach and reigning premiership captain Noah Forbutt to return again to coach Barellan men’s side for the fourth straight year.

Webster proved very popular with the playing groups at Hillston, coaching the women’s side along with playing for the men’s side as a winger/fullback.

Under Webster the women’s team grew to its largest ever in terms of playing numbers and he was rewarded with the Proten Cup women’s coach of the year award at the presentation.

Despite a last minute loss to Rankins Springs in the minor semi-final, the Bluebirds certainly improved on 2024 after struggling a bit with playing numbers in prior seasons and with Webster back on board 2026 looks very bright.

The Bluebirds club has kept busy in the off-season playing touch footy on Friday nights.

Barellan Rams have pulled off the best signing they could hope for with captain-coach Noah Forbutt agreeing to go around again as coach for the 2026 season, though this time without co-coach Adam Thomas.

Forbutt and Thomas took over the men’s coaching jobs in 2023 and took the Rams from last that year without a win to their name, to third-spot and a minor-semi final in 2024 and then a grand final win this year, in a great example of a young squad sticking together and improving through playing together.

Thomas steps down this year after three years at the top with Forbutt to go it alone in 2026.

The re-signing is the biggest sign that the premiership-winning team will stick together next year.

 In other news Rankins Springs Dragons have set the date for their 100th year reunion, calling all players and supporters to return to the Springs on 14 March, 2026.

The night plans to be a great one with dinner, guest speakers, life member induction and a ‘Top 20 players of the Century’ presentation and an almighty amount of drink.