At the time this switcheroo happened (2006-7), Seven News was coming second to (National) Nine News in the Brisbane ratings, though this wasn’t the only major change to their lineup. With Webcke presenting the weeknight sport, this would’ve pitted him up against another Queensland Origin legend in Wally Lewis, though the latter would take some time off after a diagnosis of epilepsy towards the end of 2006.
John Schluter was lured across from Nine after he suddenly resigned as their weather presenter close to the end of 2006, with Talitha Cummins moving to weekends, while Sharyn Ghidella (then the Today newsreader on Channel Nine) was hired to present on weekends, replacing Tracey Challenor, who then left the network. Ghidella therefore followed in the footsteps of Ian Ross, who of course would take the Sydney bulletin to the top of their ratings charts in 2005.
By the end of 2007, Seven News would become the top-rating news service in south-east Queensland, which they would hold to the end of 2012.
This is what they should’ve done in the first place IMO. Then after a few years, slowly transition them into weeknights. Instead, BTQ shot themselves in the foot when Bill and Sharyn suddenly replaced Kay and Rod at very short notice, and this allowed QTQ to reclaim ratings supremacy in Brisbane.