While a majority of Singleton locals have donned the blue this evening in hopes of seeing their home state claim the 2019 origin decider spare a thought for our Queensland born residents.
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In a Singleton Argus first, sports writer Alex Tigani has attempted to uncover ten Singleton athletes either born or raised in the Sunshine State.
Here are his findings in the form of yet another top ten list:
=10. Dylan Hixon (Singleton Roosters - AFL HCC)
Age: 22
Birthplace: Rockhampton
Original club: Rockhampton Brothers JRL, Singleton Greyhounds
Hixon could wear one of three hats such has been his passion for Singleton's respective Rodeo, Rugby League and AFL communities. Outside of Rose Point Park he's been granted the nickname 'Bull' on account of his Rodeo career while he has also represented the Capricorn Rams under-13 side and Brisbane Northern Districts under-16 team in Rugby League.
It was too hard to leave this Rockhampton born talent out of the list given his diverse sporting resume.
=10. Liz Moule (Singleton Roosters - AFL HCC)
Age: 30
Birthplace: Brisbane
Original club: South Newcastle (Hockey)
Due to the rushed composition of this list it was very hard to find a list of sporting women from the Sunshine State. Here we have quality over quantity via Singleton Roosterettes co-captain Liz Moule.
After a few years of contributing with South Newcastle's hockey campaigns Moule traded the stick for the Sherrin and is now a solid contributor to the town's AFL team.
9. Cooper Maytom (Singleton Greyhounds - Group 21 Rugby League)
Age: 16
Birthplace: Brisbane
Original club: Singleton Greyhounds
It was also hard to find many teenage talents who were originally born north of the border. And Cooper Maytom would be too young to recall his early years in Brisbane before his family returned to the Upper Hunter over a decade ago.
Still, what he's lacked on the field (due to a hand injury) he's made up for by coaching the Singleton Greyhounds' under-16 side alongside his proud father Glen 'Goofy' Maytom.
8. Kye and Gregg Dann (JPC - Singleton District Cricket Association and Singleton Strikers - New FM Northern League One)
Ages: Kye - 16, Gregg - 42
Birthplaces: Kye - Mackay, Gregg - Ipswich
Original clubs: Kye - JPC, Singleton Strikers. Gregg - Middlemount Panthers (Rugby League), Middlemount CC (Cricket)
I know Gregg Dann well enough to realise that he'd be cringing to find himself on this list such is his modesty.
But at the end of the day he helped guide JPC to not one but two premierships over summer (T20 first grade in February and regular second grade in March). He's also found the back of the net for the Strikers on several occasions in the 35s league while (I've heard) he could be a smokey for next year's Singleton seniors' tennis tournament.
As for his son Kye, the cricket and soccer accolades just keep on coming in.
7. Jake Barner (Singleton Strikers - New FM Northern League One)
Age: 24
Birthplace: Redcliffe
Original club: Muswellbrook
Would be one of the toughest calls to keep Barner out of the top five particularly when he is Singleton's newest recruit.
However he's been pipped for now. The former Weston midfielder made 18 NPL appearances last season before switching forward in 2019 to register a goal against league powerhouse Cooks Hill United.
6. Matthew Cornelius (Singleton Roosters - AFL HCC)
Age: 22
Birthplace: Hervey Bay
Original club: Hervey Bay Bombers FC
Matthew Cornelius is full of surprises.
Initially, the Hervey Bay footballer made the final ten on account of his first year at Rose Point Park. Little did we know until recently that this young man has also represented the Queensland under-16 cricket squad.
Could he be the SDCA recruit of the year in the 2019/20 season?
5. Daniel Hayes (Valley - Singleton District Cricket Association)
Age: 31
Birthplace: Somewhere in Queensland
Original club: Somewhere in Queensland
Rumour has it that Daniel Hayes' shoulder has passed its use by date.
I find that hard to believe.
Last season the star SDCA all-rounder collected 28 wickets and 233 runs (including a single tally of 88) across 15 games while he also helped Valley reach the first grade finals for both formats. The 31-year-old is also an exceptional rugby talent but we'll stick to cricket for now.
4. Cameron White (Singleton Roosters - AFL HCC)
Age: 26
Birthplace: Buderim
Original club: Buderim Wanderers FC (Soccer)
White was terribly unlucky not make the top three. He's been named in the Roosters' best players a total of eight times across his 11 games this season and has also found eight goals from a midfield which has been unable to match the likes of Cardiff, Terrigal Avoca and Newcastle City in recent months.
The scary thing about White is that he's rumoured to be an even handier contributor in the round ball game while his relocation to inland Singleton has also limited his secret talents on the sailboat. A genuine all-round sporting talent.
3. Joseph Civello (Singleton Strikers - New FM Northern League One)
Age: 27
Birthplace: Mackay
Original club: Country United
Expert says: "I'm more of a Queenslander than Jake Barner and Cameron White combined so put me in the top three," Joesph Civello (Singleton Strikers).
It was very hard to keep this dynamic Singleton Striker away from the number one mantle. The 27-year-old continues to breathe life into our town's round ball community on the field against the likes of Belmont Swansea and Cessnock City while he also makes himself available for junior clinics with the game's next generation.
Civello also showcased his professionalism over summer when training with the Singleton Roosters' AFL side during the three weeks prior to the Strikers' pre-season so you can't question his loyalty.
He also represented Mackay in the Queensland Soccer League making him very unlucky to miss out on the list.
=1. Andrew Scott (Singleton Roosters - AFL HCC)
Age: 31
Birthplace: Brisbane
Original club: Western Magpies (QAFL), Mt Gravatt (NEAFL)
Expert says: "Runner up in the BDAFL's Davey medal, Andrew is one of the best players I have seen live," Ashley Borg (returning AFL Hunter Central Coast umpire).
When I first moved to Singleton over summer and asked who could play AFL in this town the answer from all was 'Chis'.
Fast forward to July and the Singleton Roosters' senior playing coach may finally be in contention for the league's Davey medal following a four goal haul over Maitland on Saturday.
A majority of his 16 years of senior football took place up north where he played over 100 senior games for Mt Gravatt and also represented the Queensland state side at junior level in the 2005 championship series.
=1. James Bradley (Singleton Greyhounds - Group 21 Rugby League)
Age: 19
Birthplace: Cairns
Original club: Singleton Greyhounds
Expert says: "One of those blokes who is just naturally talented," Jye Bayley (Singleton Greyhounds' coach).
There's never been a more ironic scenario than tonight's State of Origin decider for James Bradley.
Bradley has called Singleton home for as long as he can remember and has only donned the three jumpers of the Singleton Greyhounds, Group 21 and Greater Northern Tigers with pride and loyalty.
His mates don the NSW Blues colours with gusto and in a few hours' time there is every chance they'll be celebrating back to back titles for the first time since many of them had even commenced primary school.
Yet the Singleton Greyhound will be donning the maroon colours on this occasion.
"I was born in Cairns, moved out of town for a few years and then to Singleton by the time I was four," Bradley revealed to the Singleton Argus earlier this month.
"(I never played up there but) I'm still a Queenslander," he smiled.
It's an interesting connection, but does it justify his share of the top position in this list?
Based on his on field performance? Probably.
Bradley's absence from the line-up in the past fortnight has been reflected in the Greyhounds' results against the league's powerhouse Scone.
It's easy to say but the five-eighth did take out the club's top honour at the age of 18 and already shapes up as a candidate for the first grade captaincy in the years to come.
Based on his off field performance? Certainly.
No one could have forecast just how crucial the league's Where There's a Will round was going to be for the Singleton community these past 14 days.
However the Greyhounds selected the sidelined star to stand before the club as an ambassador for the foundation and he filled that role with genuine class.
Therefore I was proud to select both Bradley and Scott as the equal best Singleton sporting stars originally from Queensland.
Previous 2019 top ten lists by Alex Tigani (Singleton Argus) include:
