Summer Bay has officially begun filming in Western Australia (WA) for its biggest event of 2026, and the first photos from the set have revealed an unexpected shock: Tane Parata will be involved in the dramatic storyline of Brax and Ricky Sharp!

The producers have described this as a “landmark event” and an “ambitious, high-stakes storyline,” promising to elevate Home and Away to a new level.

TANE’S INVOLVEMENT: BRAX’S CONSPIRACY

This special event will reunite us with Darryl ‘Brax’ Braxton (Stephen Peacocke) and Ricky Sharp (Bonnie Sveen) for the first time since 2016. The new plot will reveal where life has taken them since leaving Summer Bay, promising high-stakes drama and emotional payoffs against the stunning, rugged backdrop of the WA outback .

However, the most intriguing detail is the appearance of Tane Parata (Ethan Browne) in the first photos from Perth. He has been photographed alongside Steven Peacocke, suggesting that Tane will be part of the chaos in WA.

The Shocking Truth: Tane has no known connection to Brax or Ricky! However, he did have a brief encounter with Brax’s brother, Heath Braxton. Heath once appeared to help Tane and Ari escape a drug gang after Tane messed up a job. Heath and the River Boys arrived on their turf to warn that the area was “River Boy territory” and then engaged in a brawl to save the Parata brothers.

THE BIG QUESTION: IS THE RIVER BOY CRIME BACK?

Tane’s involvement suggests that this massive storyline could involve the River Boys gang. Will Tane, a reformed bad boy, be dragged back into trouble once again? Perhaps Brax needs help from someone capable of handling “dirty” business without drawing suspicion, and Tane is the perfect candidate for this task.

Producers remain tight-lipped about the reason for Brax and Ricky’s return, but the unexpected link between Brax and Tane raises a huge question: Is Brax reverting to his old criminal ways, and is Tane the indispensable piece in his plan?

The special episodes are set to air in early 2026, with five episodes filmed in WA, promising thrilling action, nostalgia, and a plot that will completely change the dynamics of Summer Bay!