WHEN Tye Ingebrigtsen walked into the Ipswich Jets head coaching role in mid-2024, the club was staring into the darkest stretch in its proud history.
The Jets had won just one of their first 10 games that season. Even more alarming, they had managed only one victory across their previous 32 matches. The numbers were grim – but the mood inside the club was heavier still.
“It was a really dark period when I took over,” Ingebrigtsen said.
“There was a lot of hard work that had to happen quickly. But for me, it was also a chance to start fresh – to bring in my own philosophies and create an environment where people actually enjoyed coming to work again.”
By the back end of the 2024 season, Ipswich were no longer easybeats. The Jets won five of their final seven games, a late surge that rebuilt confidence and gave the club belief heading into a crucial off-season.
A clean-out of the roster followed, along with a deliberate reconnection to what Ipswich football had always stood for. Former Jets who understood the club’s DNA were brought back into the fold.
“Blokes like Blakey Lenahan, Julian Christian and Zac Hetherington – they knew what this club was built on,” Ingebrigtsen said.
“They were massive for us through that pre-season. They set standards and helped bring the culture back.”
In 2025, Ipswich surged into the finals, finishing eighth – a remarkable rise for a club that had been on the canvas just 12 months earlier.
Now, heading into 2026, the Jets are no longer sneaking up on anyone.
The playing roster is one of the most intriguing Ipswich has assembled in years. New signings Brenton Baira, Dontoray Lui, Moses Mbye, Brady Nguyen and Logan Bayliss-Brow bring a blend of speed, power and experience.
“Baira is electric,” Ingebrigtsen said.
“Dontoray is a real runner and attacking weapon. Moses brings so much experience. Brady is fit and powerful with great leg speed, and Logan has trained the house down.”
They will be supported by the steady leadership of Lenahan, Christian and Ken Maumalo – a blend of youth and experience that gives Ipswich genuine depth.
Just as important is what is coming through behind them. Ipswich remains one of Queensland rugby league’s richest nurseries, and Ingebrigtsen is determined to keep that pathway strong.
“We’ve had Mal Meninga Cup kids come into our pre-season, and some have picked up Titans 20s opportunities through our affiliation,” he said. “Some won’t be ready for Cup in 2026 – but they will be in 2027. Those pathways matter.”
Then there are the fans – the heartbeat of the club.
Crowds built steadily across 2025 as the Jets rediscovered their fighting spirit, and with home games now at Goodna, matchdays are more accessible than ever.
The Jets may not have set formal targets yet, but belief has returned – and so has the sense of pride.
“We’ll play exciting footy,” Ingebrigtsen said. “And we want Ipswich behind us.”
For a club that was once staring into the abyss, that belief may be the most powerful victory of all.
