A new season always brings a fresh mix of hype, hope and overreactions, and while no premiership is won in Round 1, there is no shortage of storylines heading into opening day.
One of the biggest talking points is the return of Crocs to Women’s 1st Grade after spending the 2025 season in Women’s 2nd Grade.
Crocs elected to drop back a grade last year due to the absence of several key players, but with those players now back in the fold and a 2025 Women’s 2nd Grade premiership already in the cabinet, the club will be eager to test itself again at the top level and chase the Women’s 1st Grade title that has so far remained out of reach.
There has also been a major shift in the Women’s competition with Rum Runners unable to enter a team in either Women’s 1st Grade or Women’s 2nd Grade this season following the departure of key players.
That means the club’s remarkable era of dominance in Women’s 1st Grade has come to an end, opening the door for a new-look title race in 2026 spearheaded by last year's premiers Brothers.
Rum Runners will still have plenty to cheer about on the men’s side, with the club stepping back into Men’s 1st Grade for the first time in well over a decade.
After going down by a single point in last year’s Men’s 2nd Grade Grand Final, Rum Runners have taken the leap into the top flight and now give Men’s 1st Grade a long-awaited fifth team for the new season.
Their supporters will need a little patience though, with Rum Runners drawing the bye in Round 1 and set to make their Men’s 1st Grade return next week.
Round 1 also serves up a pair of marquee rematches involving last year’s grand finalists, with reigning premiers Brothers to face Frogs in Women’s 1st Grade at 6pm before Brothers will be out for revenge when they meet last year's premiers Redskins in Men’s 1st Grade at 7pm.
Both of last season’s runners-up will be keen to make an early statement, with Frogs in Women’s 1st Grade and Brothers in Men’s 1st Grade both out to show they will not be denied again in 2026.
The opening round also marks the beginning of an important early block in the season, with three rounds to be played before the competition pauses for the Easter holidays on 05/04/2026.
Colliers Shield will then return for Round 4 on 12/04/2026, break again for the North Queensland juniors carnival on 19/04/2026, and resume for Round 5 on 26/04/2026 before continuing through to Grand Finals on Saturday 01/08/2026.
Today’s first match gets underway at 3pm when Sharks take on Frogs in Men’s 2nd Grade on Field 2, while Jots-Tigers face Brothers in Women’s 2nd Grade on Field 3.
From there, the afternoon and evening schedule rolls through every grade of the competition, including Crocs’ Women’s 1st Grade return against Sharks at 4pm, Sharks and Frogs meeting in Men’s 1st Grade at 5pm, the Women’s 1st Grade grand final rematch between Brothers and Frogs at 6pm, and the Men’s 1st Grade blockbuster between Brothers and Redskins at 7pm.
With rivalries renewed, new chapters beginning and every club looking to start fast, Queens Park is the place to be this afternoon as the 2026 Colliers Shield season gets underway.
Supporters are encouraged to head down and support their club across a huge opening day of touch football action.