But before that he would like to remind everyone about the annual Calcutta.

“Tomorrow night is going to be a huge one at the Clubhouse Hotel with the annual Calcutta for the first try-scorer in the both Reserve Grade and Under 18’s grand-final games this weekend,” he says.

The Calcutta gets under way at 7:15pm sharp so get involved and get behind our two remaining teams as they fight it out for Group 21 premiership glory.”

And, now back to the Under 18’s, who face Muswellbrook in the grand-final.

Meet the team:

1.       Steve Muddle: One of a number of players joining the team from the Dungog Warriors this year. The ‘enigma’ is more reliable than a Swiss wrist watch and has covered many positions throughout 2017. A real safe pair of hands at the back of the team.

2.       Cody Palmer: One of if not the most consistent player this year. He has spent most of the season as a hooker providing tremendous service… no pun intended. Has shifted to the three quarters in recent weeks as a defensive stop on our left edge and deserves a GF try.

3.       Logan Rutter: The lifeblood, heart and soul of the team. A real character with some strange habits in the dressing sheds, let’s leave it at that. A real confidence player who scored two slashing tries in the major semi-final to hit form at the right time of year.

4.       Morgan Amidy: One of these key players having been part of the Northern Tigers academy side in recent years. Dynamic player who is difficult to handle and Morg’s has managed 9 tries this year. Haynesy, his wingman is hoping to get a few crumbs off him in the big one.

5.       Scott Haynes: A former colt and Northern Academy squad member. Haynes much like his older brother Jarryd is considering a switch to the NFL 49’ers franchise next season. Has been excellent for the team this year and has a great attitude to training and the game.

6.       James Bradley: Knights Under 18 S.G.Ball player and one of four juniors to make their First Grade debut this year and how. First Grade coaches Jye Bayley and Ben Thorley have waxed lyrical about him and have mortgaged their houses to keep him in Singleton next year.

7.       Brayden Turnbull: The apprentice carpenter has been ‘building’ in confidence each game and started to work some strong combinations on the right edge. Won man of the match in the Under 17’s GF last year so can certainly rise to the occasion.

8.       Jesse Slavin: This 110kg wrecking ball has continued to make huge gains in 2017. Bends the line every time he takes the ball up and another to make his First grade debut this year. Has a big decision to make next year, studying for a bachelor of medicine or to play football.

9.       Zac Butler: Team captain who leads by example. Talented footballer who has played all the key positions this year and now back in his favoured hooker role. Had to close down his social media accounts due to being so popular with the ladies within the league-tag sides.

10.   Tom Baker: Another of the Newcastle Knights S.G.Ball side members who has a huge future. A leader of the forwards and at 6’4’’ and 112kg who’s to argue. There are two Bakers in this grand-final, one for each side, but only one will come out of it with their reputation intact.

11.   Hayden Bourke: Another Northern Academy start who started the year at fullback but jumped at the chance to play with the pigs. Bourkey is the competition’s top try scorer with 12 meat pies on top of landing 26 goals. This smiling assassin will have the last laugh.

12.   Cody Argent: The second of our Dungog connection who is an accomplished former Maitland representative player. Has all the skills and loves nothing more than sticking his shoulder into opponent’s rib-cages. Respected by all his team mates and big game player.

13.   Lachlan Fry: Very talented forward whose versatility was there for all to see last week playing five-eighth by scoring a try and having a hand in two others. Back in his preferred position he going to cause Muswellbrook so much pain it would give ‘panadol’ a headache.

14.   Kyle Knight: Had a wonderful season and is unlucky not to be starting the game. Has been tearing up opposition defences in recent weeks and scoring tries. At some stage of the game his presence will be felt. This closet ‘Prince’ fan will be partying likes it 1999 if the boys win.

15.   Cody Landers: Has been strong up front this year and will be looking to make an impact once his solid frame hits the field. The third of the ‘Cody brotherhood’ in this team, Lando is no doubt the most popular of them who bleed’s red and white for his team mates.

16.   Dylan Grant: While his nicknamed can’t be printed in this newspaper we can tell you that he is a dangerous ball runner and defender when on his game. He keeps it simple by running hard and tackling hard and another who is definitely punching above his weight, wink, wink.

17.   Bailey Schultz: a lot to like about this hirsute kid nicknamed ‘the bear’. Played most of the season at fullback and proved his worth in that position. His season was over when he was struck down with appendicitis a few weeks ago but this kid is tough much like his old man.

18.   Tyler Campbell: This son of ‘Cujo’ has been sorely missed. A serious shoulder injury looked to have ended his season a few months ago but a stint in rehab has him ready for GF. The Ram’s will know when the man they dub TC is on the pitch don’t you worry about that.

19.   Jayden Maytom: A young pup who has shown potential this year but another one coming back from a long layoff with a shoulder injury. Has always brought something to this team with plenty of energy so I guess those cans of ‘Red Bull’ really do work.

20.   Lachlan West, 21. Josh Moore, 22. Tristan Chalker, 23. Dan Lancaster, 24. Cameron Shearer, 25. Cameron Burns, 26. Connor Mulholland, 27. Kodi Sloan.

All these guys can be proud of their contribution to the team this year. The side would not have finished the season in the position it did without these guys, it’s just unfortunate that they all can’t take the field.

The Big Game:

Singleton Tyre Centre Under 18’s are just 60 minutes away from premiership glory this Saturday. Once again the team has had healthy numbers during the 2017 season and with an awful run of injury, illness and personal tragedy along the way, every player will have contributed to this point of the season and can feel very much a part of any success if forthcoming.

The competition, despite being just four teams strong, has been reasonably even and from the 15 games Singleton recorded 11 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Their opponents this week will be the minor premiers Muswellbrook who overcame a game Scone outfit in the preliminary final scored 34 – nil.

In the four occasions these teams have met in 2017 Singleton holds the upper hand. In Round 3 it was an exciting 19 – 19 draw, a sure sign of what laid ahead for the season. In Round 8 at Olympic Park, Singleton showed their capabilities with an emphatic 26 – 6 win. In Round 13 it was Muswellbrook that returned the favour this time at Pirtek Park with a 28 – 18 result. Then in the major semi-final again at Olympic Park Singleton hung on to defeat a fast finishing Muswellbrook 28 – 24 after leading 28 – 12 with seven minutes remaining.

Both teams have some outstanding talent particularly in the spine.

Singleton will be boosted with the return of several key players, none more than five-eighth James Bradley who has been playing First Grade in a handful of games late in the season. Skipper Zac Butler will play hooker has he is a huge competitor that is sure to drive his team to victory.

Of course it will be engine room where perhaps this game is run and won and no-one is in better form than Singleton’s big men Tom Baker, Jesse Slavin and Cody Landers who were impressive two weeks ago. Singleton’s depth will ensure their interchange will bring something to the game led by the in-form Kyle Knight.

Coaches Brett Williamson and Darren Ward have identified a couple of key area’s to focus on and if the team can execute them, a victory is well and truly within their grasp. 

The Ram’s will be looking for revenge and will enjoy home crowd and home ground support so Singleton need to start well and take them out of the picture. Good luck to the team.

The Remondis Group Reserve Grade side turned the disappointment of last week’s loss to Aberdeen into the ultimate motivation by wiping the floor clean against Muswellbrook to the tune of 54 – 0.

The writing on the wall was early and after a tense opening period the Dog’s raced to a match-winning 36-nil lead at half time to demoralise the opposition.

Singleton aimed up in defence to and probably left a few points out there prior to getting to 54 – nil. Singleton points came via tries to Brodie Rinkin (2), Michael Rinkin (2), Jordan Watson (2), Jake Mackaway, Joel Pearson and Hayden Yates while Mackaway landed an impressive 8 from 8 with the boot.

The grand-final is against the Tigers and Singleton will need to pull out all stops to reverse the recent result to come away as premiership winners.

Looking at the head to head games this year against the Tigers it gives Singleton a slight advantage having recorded 24-10 win in Round 5 and a 32-24 win in Round 15. However, in the major semi two weeks ago it was the Tigers who landed the prize 20 – 18 to send warning that they mean business in 2017. 

Unfortunately, the Singleton Ourcare First Grade side gave a great account of themselves but unfortunately fell short of a grand-final berth in this years Group 21 premiership when they went down to the Aberdeen Tigers 22 – 12 at Pirtek Park last Sunday. It was the visitors who got the best of the start when they crossed in the 9th minute and again in the 17th minute to lead 10 – nil. Singleton certainly had opportunities to score but poor handling failed to materialise in that pressure turning into points. It’s fair to say that had Singleton managed to cross for a try at that time the outcome may have been decidedly different. Indeed for the next quarter of play Singleton dominated field position and Aberdeen resorted to delaying tactics and appeared to be feigning injury to disrupt the momentum Singleton had created. It wasn’t until the 61st minute that the Tigers kicked clear when they caught an infield bomb just inside the Dog’s dead ball line to push that lead to 16-nil.

The game changed and Aberdeen lifted their intensity and managed to cross once again to make it 22-nil with 15 minutes remaining. With the game seemingly gone Singleton rallied with two late tries to Hayden Yates and Luke Gardner to make a game of it however it was too little too late and in the end the clock had the final say.

No doubt the loss of Singleton’s big men Chris Martin and Josh Desmond were telling in the loss and had they been on the park the result could have been different, not just this week but the previous week as well.

It has been a gallant effort from the Dog’s and they can be proud of the effort this year particular many of the players playing busted such as Russell Richards and Craig Edwards whose courage could never be doubted.

Group 21 grand-final day Saturday 2nd September, 2017- Olympic Park (Muswellbrook)

First Grade: Muswellbrook V’s Aberdeen

Reserve Grade: Aberdeen V’s Singleton

Under 18: Singleton V’s Muswellbrook

Ladies League-tag: Merriwa V’s Muswellbrook