New Brisbane captain Adam Reynolds didn't have to look far to see what he was inheriting.
The high-profile Broncos recruit was squeezed into the club's shiny foyer opposite their six premiership trophies for a press conference on Tuesday.
Players and staff watched on as a who's who of club legends were beamed on the giant screen above them.
Brisbane's first captain Wally Lewis was in the room too, as were Sam Thaiday and Justin Hodges, to welcome the man tasked with turning around the fortunes of the once-mighty club.
Former Rabbitohs skipper Reynolds left his junior club begrudgingly when they were unable to offer him a long-term deal.
Signed at Red Hill until 2024, the 31-year-old was the obvious choice to lead the club after Alex Glenn's retirement.
But he'll have healthy support in fellow recruits Kurt Capewell and Ryan James to complement emerging leaders Patrick Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs.
"There's a rich history here and a lot of great captains before me that have done a great job," the premiership-winning halfback said.
"'It's got such a rich history with all the trophies here, it's good to look around and see the stamp they've left on this club and now it's our time.
"We're in a position now we can do something special."
After a distant 14th last year and a historic maiden wooden spoon the year before that, coach Kevin Walters faces a crucial second year in charge.
And the former Queensland coach has been so impressed in the influential playmaker that he was happy to install a New South Welshman as captain for the first time.
Not only that, but he'll be hoping that fellow Blues Payne Haas and Staggs - arguably in the club's top-three players alongside Reynolds - can play their part in the proud club's resurgence.
"I don't see him as a New South Welshman anymore, I see him and love him in maroon," Walters said.
"We've got a few of the idiots from down south in our group, so he won't be alone here."
Walters insisted the captaincy wasn't offered, but that the vibe was good, when he and Brisbane chief executive Dave Donaghy met Reynolds and his family in Sydney last year to discuss a move north.
The coach said four-time premiership captain Allan Langer, who remains a constant presence at the club, had delivered a crystal- clear edict to Reynolds and his teammates.
"What made Alf a great captain was the players around him doing their jobs," Walters said.
"The pressure will be relieved when all these guys here do their roles.
"Then he's got the skills, like all the great captains, to get us home in the big moments."
Reynolds drew mock awe from his teammates when he shot down any suggestion a round one match-up on March 11 against the Rabbitohs would be "weird".
"I'm a Bronco, simple as that."
THE HONOUR ROLL OF BRISBANE NRL AND NRLW CAPTAINS
* Wally Lewis (37 games as captain) - 1988-89
* Gene Miles (30) - 1990-91
* Allan Langer (170) - 1992-99
* Kevin Walters (39) - 1999-2000
* Gorden Tallis (82) - 2001-04
* Darren Lockyer (163) - 2005-11
* Sam Thaiday (47) - 2012-13
* Corey Parker (68) - 2014,16
* Justin Hodges (41) - 2014-15
* Darius Boyd (71) - 2017-19
* Ali Brigginshaw (12) - 2018-
* Alex Glenn (36) - 2020-21
* Adam Reynolds - 2022-
