Just months after contesting their first top grade Grand Final since 1995, the Hay Magpies have farewelled two key members of their side who have linked with a Toowoomba club for next season.

Ben Arandt and Will Barnes, who were integral to the Magpies’ late season charge from seventh place to a finals berth and eventually an appearance in the big dance, have signed with the Toowoomba Brothers ahead of the 2026 campaign.

In an exclusive interview with Battlers For Bush Footy about their move to the Sunshine State, Arandt revealed it was not football but an employment opportunity that saw him relocate to The Garden City.

“I actually started a job, and an opportunity to transfer to a new role up here came up, so I snatched that and was working via distance from about August,” he said.

“I was always moving up here and just had to find a club when I got up here.”

Given that the Magpies enjoyed a return to the success that has largely eluded them in 2025, many thought the side’s key players would stick around to try and go one better, however it wasn’t to be.

Reflecting on the 2025 season and the Magpies’ rise from missing the top five to a Grand Final appearance, Arandt said it was a year he won’t forget anytime soon.

“It was pretty unreal, my closest mates my age, Will, Kynan and Jock, we all grew up playing together, and hadn’t played together since we were 11 or something like that, so it was cool to come back and play with them,” he said.

“It was [also] cool seeing Hay go well, because they’ve always had good players, but [we] didn’t have enough to quite get over the edge.

“It would have been nice to bring it home, but it was awesome being back home.”

His departure means that the reigning Ray Thorpe Medallist will not feature in the Group 20 team for the return of the Kelly Cup in February.

When asked about receiving the best and fairest award for his performances this season, Arandt said that while he was honoured, he would have preferred team success over individual recognition.

“It is a big honour, don’t get me wrong, but at the moment I would have loved to have won the comp,” he said.

“It’s probably more something you can look back on when you get a bit older, but at the moment, you definitely want to take out the big one.”

As for if we’ll ever see him back in the famous black and white jumper, Arandt said it does remain a possibility.

“I don’t know, I wouldn’t rule it out, it would be cool to get back there again, but I’ll just have to see where I end up,” he said.

Joining Arandt on the northern sojourn is star hooker and two-time Group 20 Premiership winner Will Barnes, who also departs Hay after just one season back at the club.

Barnes said that one reason for following Arandt to the Darling Downs was the chance to play some higher level football, as well as increased employment opportunities.

“I was just keen to play a bit better quality footy, and also with work, I wanted to do stuff that I wasn’t able to do back home, so that’s the main reason,” he said.

High-quality football is something he is familiar with, after spending time with Pamiers-Vernajoul in the French leagues following his successful stint at Leeton.

Speaking on his time at both clubs, the talented hooker said the experience in France was an incredible one, while the back-to-back premierships at the Greenies sit among the best moments of his career.

“It was interesting over in France, obviously the language barrier, but it was a great experience and [I’m] definitely glad I did it,” he said.

“[Leeton] was awesome, the first year I played in 2022, the first year we won it, there were still a few older boys getting around there then.

“That was unreal to play with a few of the older boys and when we first won, [it was] an unreal feeling.

“Then the next year we lost a few of those old boys but got some other blokes in and ended up getting the job done again.”

That success was something he tried to replicate at the Magpies in 2025, with the club going on a remarkable run only to fall to a Darlington Point-Coleambally side hunting back-to-back titles in a fifth straight Group 20 decider.

Looking back at the season, Barnes said that while it was tough to lose the Grand Final, it was one of the most enjoyable years of his career so far.

“It was good, obviously it would have been good to go one step further,” he said.

“[We] didn’t quite get there in the end but I loved it.

“I loved every minute of it back playing with all my mates that I grew up with.”

When asked if he’d ever consider a return to the Magpies again one day, Barnes said he’ll be back in the black and white at some stage before he hangs up the boots.

“I don’t think I’ll be up here forever, I think I’ll probably end up back around home later on at some stage, so definitely for sure,” he said.

The Toowoomba Rugby League season will begin with trial matches in March before the A-Grade Premiership kicks off in April.