Located about 30km from Toowoomba in South East Queensland, the town of Oakey is home to approximately 4,000 residents.
The local league has a rich history in the area, having played this sport for nearly a century and capturing four premierships, with the last one occurring in 1999.
However, the Oakey Bears have faced significant challenges in recent years, with their last finals appearance in 2011 and again in 2012, but since then, it's mostly been about wooden spoons and a few sporadic victories.
The situation worsened in 2016 when the team suffered a staggering 108-1 defeat and was subsequently removed from the competition due to financial issues and poor performance.
In April 2025, the club began to show signs of improvement following the hiring of a high-profile coach and notable signings, including ex-Titans, Broncos, and Warriors star Ash Taylor.
Yet, just before the 2025 competition began, the coach left unexpectedly, prompting Ash to step in as player-coach.
Fast forward 17 months, and the Bears are making their first finals series appearance in 14 years, bringing immense joy to the community.
"It's been great at Oakey. Since retiring from the NRL, I have struggled to find something I love, but I love this," Taylor shared with the Courier Mail last weekend.
This is someone who was once hailed as the next breakout star, signing a lucrative three-year, $3 million contract with the Gold Coast Titans at just 22.
Taylor was named Dally M Rookie of the Year in 2016, surpassing Nathan Cleary, and was celebrated as one of the brightest young talents.
However, the pressures of professional sports took their toll.
What started as a coveted "million-dollar man" title became burdensome, with injuries, high expectations, loss of confidence, mental health challenges, and a gambling addiction leading to his premature retirement at just 27 after a single appearance for the New Zealand Warriors.