Stephen Moore thought the Brumbies might have stripped him of the captaincy after he decided to leave the Super Rugby club at the end of the year.
But the Wallabies skipper has retained a leadership role and will co-captain with Christian Lealiifano.
Moore stunned the Brumbies last month when he turned down a supposedly very generous offer to return to the Queensland Reds in 2017.
Given the initial reaction to his announcement, the 102-Test veteran considered coach Stephen Larkham might look to the future and go with a new leader for 2016.
"Even right up until Berns (Larkham) said that this was the way he was going to go, you sort of factor in that that might happen," he said on Friday.
"That comes into your decision-making, no doubt.
"But that's all behind us now. This is the way we're going to go forward and we're really focused on making it work this year because that's what's important."
The champion hooker, who led the Wallabies to the World Cup final last year, considers Lealiifano a future leader.
As one of the longest-serving current players, he knows the place inside out and thoroughly deserves the opportunity, Moore said.
"I'll certainly be helping him in any way I can in what I've learnt about leadership," he added.
"And likewise, I'll be picking things up from him that help the team.
"There'll be people out there that think it can't work, so it's up to us to make sure that it does.
"I do think the whole concept of co-leadership is the way forward."
It's the first time in its history the club has had dual skippers.
Larkham says it'll mean a lighter load for both Moore and Lealiifano, who he believes complement each other.
"Both have attributes of good leaders and together they're going to do great things," he said.
But the Wallaby legend said the decision doesn't mean Lealiifano will automatically assume the captaincy when Moore leaves.
"Nothing is set in stone," he said.
"We have really have just focused on this year."
Lealiifano said he was both humbled and honoured to get the co-captaincy role, which he agreed is somewhat an apprenticeship for the future.
"I guess it's been a 10-year apprenticeship for me," said the 28-year-old, who moved to the nation's capital a decade ago before his Super Rugby debut in 2008.
"It's a massive moment for myself and my family.
"Whatever I can learn to improve me as a player and a leader, I'll take on board."
The news comes just days after Lealiifano signed a new flexible two-year deal with the Brumbies to allow him to play in Japan.
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