First there was one, then two. Now all three Collins' have reboarded the Pirates' ship.
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The final piece of the puzzle was Andrew coming back this season to join younger brothers Tim and Sam in the gold and black.
The seed to return was first sown for Andrew when he played for the Country Eagles at his old stamping ground last year.
"Ever since the NRC I've wanted to come back and play," Collins said.
He was a Pirates junior and played a season of first grade before making the move down to Sydney.
But after his brothers trickled back, Tim first and then Sam, the carrot to play together in Pirates' colours was always dangling.
"It was something we were thinking about that at one stage would be good," Andrew said.
They'd played together as a family on a tour to the US with Manly.
"I started with Manly this year, then I was injured," he said.
"I was going to have a year off.
"But then they conned me into it."
"We got in his ear a little bit to get him back," Sam admitted.
"It's been good to have him back."
Andrew added that it had been good playing with his brothers again.
He's been travelling back from Sydney each weekend to play and played his first game against Narrabri in the second last game of the first round, coming off the bench.
The brothers are all forwards by trade, with Andrew and Tim packing down up front and Sam on the side, although the latter has spent a bit of time in the backs.
"It's been good to be back in the forwards, I've been floating around everywhere," he said.
About the only positions he hasn't played this year are prop, second row, winger and half-back.
Breakaway is his preferred position.
The youngest of the three, he was recognised as the best on ground in their 45-3 win over Inverell on Saturday, picking up the three best and fairest points.
Much to his surprise, although he was in the thick of everything as usual.
"I thought our defence was good," Collins said.
Their scrambling defence particularly, covering any breaks the Highlanders made.
"We have a lot of pride in our defence," he said.
"It was good to hold them tryless."
At one stage the Highlanders were peppering them for about 10-15 minutes.
The win pushed them six points clear in second of Moree, who they tackle tomorrow, and who will be coming off a 25-all draw with Narrabri.
"I think we've got to step it up another level," Collins said.
They particularly need to pick up their discipline. On Saturday they were again guilty of giving away too many penalties.
In other games tomorrow, Inverell is at home to Walcha, while Gunnedah host Scone and Tamworth head to Quirindi.
