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Matt Sing

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Matt Sing
Sing playing for Hull in 2007
Personal information
Full nameMatthew Charles Sing
Born (1975-03-13) 13 March 1975 (age 49)
Winton, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight86 kg (13 st 8 lb)
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1993–95 Penrith Panthers 36 14 0 0 56
1996–01 Sydney Roosters 135 72 0 0 288
2002–06 North Queensland 104 73 0 0 292
2007–08 Hull FC 48 17 0 0 68
Total 323 176 0 0 704
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–05 Queensland 24 5 0 0 20
1995–05 Australia 14 5 0 0 20
Source: [1][2]

Matthew Charles Sing (born 13 March 1975) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian and Queensland representative, Sing played his club football for the Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL) and for Hull FC in the Super League.

Sing was the sixth player in Australian first grade history to score 150 tries and, as of 2019, is seventh on the all-time try scorers list.[3]

Background

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Born in Winton, Queensland, Sing is of Indigenous Australian descent.[4] He grew up in Dysart, playing his junior rugby league for the Dysart Bulls and later attending North Rockhampton State High School[5][6] In 1992, Sing was selected for the Queensland under-17 side, coming off the bench in their 14–22 loss to New South Wales.[7]

Playing career

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Penrith Panthers

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Sing joined the Penrith Panthers in 1993, originally as a halfback. After poor form for the Panthers' lower grade sides, he was dropped to the local Penrith competition, where former Panthers' coach Len Stacker moved him to centre.[8] The move kick-started his career, as he returned to the Panthers' reserve grade side after just one game, was selected for the Junior Kangaroos and made his first grade debut in Round 13 of the 1993 NSWRL season. He finished his debut season playing four games off the bench. In 1994, he locked down a starting centre spot for Penrith, playing 17 games, scoring six tries and being named the club's Rookie of the Year.[9]

In 1995, Sing made his State of Origin debut for Queensland, starting on the wing in all three games in their 3–0 series victory over New South Wales. In July 1995, he made his Test debut for Australia, starting on the wing in their 20–10 win over New Zealand. Sing left the Panthers at the end of the 1995 season as the club sided with the rebel Super League competition. Sing stayed loyal to the Australian Rugby League, signing with the ARL-aligned Sydney City Roosters. In Sing's final season for the Panthers, he scored 8 tries in 15 games.

Sydney Roosters

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In 1996, in his first season for the Roosters, Sing scored 12 tries in 21 games. In his first five seasons with the club, Sing scored 10 or more tries each year. He played in all three games for Queensland in their 1996 State of Origin series loss to New South Wales and in October, represented Australia in their 52–6 win over Papua New Guinea. In 1997, he scored 11 tries in 22 games as the Roosters came within one game of the Grand Final. In June 1997, he scored his first try for Queensland in their 14–15 loss to New South Wales. In July 1997, he scored for Australia in their 28–8 win over the Rest of the World. In 1998, Sing scored 15 tries in 27 games for the Roosters and once again played all three games for Queensland in their series win over New South Wales. In Round 21 of the 1998 season, he played his 100th first grade game in the Roosters' 20–32 loss to the Melbourne Storm.

In 1999, he earned a recall to the Australian side, coming off the bench in their Anzac Test win over New Zealand. In 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league. On 27 August 2000, he started on the wing for the Roosters in their Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos. In Round 5 of the 2001 NRL season, he played his 150th first grade in the Roosters' 30–31 loss to the Northern Eagles.

North Queensland Cowboys

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In 2002, Sing joined the struggling North Queensland Cowboys. In his first season with the club, he scored 16 tries in 23 games and won their Player of the Year and Players' Player awards. In Round 22 of the 2002 season, he scored his 100th first grade try in the Cowboys' 30–40 loss to the Melbourne Storm. In 2003 NRL season, he scored 21 tries in 20 games and again won the club's Players' Player award. That season he earned recalls to the Queensland and Australian sides. In the third game of the 2003 State of Origin series, he scored a hat-trick in a 36–6 win over New South Wales and was named man of the match.[10] In November 2003, he started two games on the wing in Australia's Ashes series win over Great Britain. In 2004, Sing played just 12 games due to jaw and knee injuries.[11] He returned in time for the finals, scoring a hat trick in a 30–22 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs, the club's first ever finals game.[12] In October and November 2004, he represented Australia in their victorious Tri-Nations campaign, starting on the wing in all five games. Following the Tri-Nations, he announced his retirement from representative football.[13]

In 2005, Sing reversed his retirement decision, starting all three games for Queensland in the 2005 State of Origin series and playing for Australia in the 2005 Anzac Test.[14] In the 2005 NRL season, he played 25 games, scoring 16 tries. He played his 250th first grade game in the Cowboys' 29–0 preliminary final win over the Parramatta Eels. On 2 October 2005, he started on the wing in the Cowboys' Grand Final loss to the Wests Tigers. In 2006, Sing played his final season for the Cowboys, playing 24 games and finishing as the side's top try scorer with 13 tries. In Round 2 of the 2006 NRL season, he scored his 150th first grade try, the sixth player to do so. On 6 June 2006, he signed a two-year deal with Hull F.C.[15][16]

Hull F.C.

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In 2007, Sing scored 11 tries in 23 Super League games for Hull F.C. On 30 August 2008, he started on the wing in Hull's 2008 Challenge Cup Final loss to St Helens.[17] He retired from professional rugby league at the end of the 2008 season.[18][19] He played 48 games for Hull over two seasons, scoring 17 tries.

Achievements and accolades

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Individual

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Penrith Panthers Rookie of the Year: 1994
North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year: 2002
North Queensland Cowboys Players' Player: 2002, 2003

Statistics

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NRL

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Statistics are correct to the end of the 2008 season[20]
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
1993 Penrith 4 0 0 — 0 0
1994 Penrith 17 6 0 — 0 24
1995 Penrith 15 8 0 — 0 32
1996 Sydney City 21 12 0 — 0 48
1997 Sydney City 22 11 0 — 0 44
1998 Sydney City 27 15 0 — 0 60
1999 Sydney City 20 13 0 — 0 52
2000 Sydney 19 13 0 — 0 52
2001 Sydney 26 8 0 — 0 32
2002 North Queensland 23 16 0 — 0 64
2003 North Queensland 20 21 0 — 0 84
2004 North Queensland 12 7 0 — 0 28
2005 North Queensland 25 16 0 — 0 64
2006 North Queensland 24 13 0 — 0 159
Career totals 275 159 0 – 0 636

Super League/Challenge Cup

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Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2007 Super League Hull F.C. 23 11 0 — 0 44
2007 Challenge Cup Hull F.C. 3 1 0 — 0 4
2008 Super League Hull F.C. 18 3 0 — 0 12
2008 Challenge Cup Hull F.C. 4 2 0 — 0 8
Career totals 48 17 0 – 0 68

International

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Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
1995 Australia Australia 1 0 0 — 0 0
1996 Australia Australia 1 0 0 — 0 0
1997 Australia Australia 1 1 0 — 0 4
1999 Australia Australia 1 0 0 — 0 0
2003 Australia Australia 4 2 0 — 0 8
2004 Australia Australia 5 1 0 — 0 4
2005 Australia Australia 1 1 0 — 0 4
Career totals 14 5 0 — 0 20

State of Origin

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† Denotes seasons in which Sing won a State of Origin Series
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
1995† Queensland 3 0 0 — 0 0
1996 Queensland 3 0 0 — 0 0
1997 Queensland 3 1 0 — 0 4
1998† Queensland 3 1 0 — 0 4
1999 Queensland 2 0 0 — 0 0
2000 Queensland 2 0 0 — 0 0
2003 Queensland 3 3 0 — 0 12
2004 Queensland 2 0 0 — 0 0
2005 Queensland 3 0 0 — 0 0
Career totals 24 5 0 — 0 20

Post-playing career

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In 2009, Sing joined the Central Comets Queensland Cup side as an assistant and backs coach.[21][22] In June 2009, he briefly came out of retirement to play for the Comets.[23]

On 17 May 2015, Sing was named on the wing in the Cowboys 20-year team and, alongside Paul Bowman, was an inaugural inductee into the Cowboys' Hall of Fame.[24][25]

References

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  1. ^ "Matt Sing - Playing Career - Summary". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". ww16.yesterdayshero.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Top 10 Indigenous NRL Try Scorers - Nine Wide World of Sports". 10 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Matt Sing - Deadly Vibe". Archived from the original on 18 September 2020.
  5. ^ "NRL stars return to school". The Courier Mail. 9 September 2012.
  6. ^ "Sing lauds Origin tour". The Courier Mail. 18 May 2005.
  7. ^ "1992". 25 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Matt Sing - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project".
  9. ^ "PLAYERS | Matt Sing". 20 April 2019.
  10. ^ https://www.qrl.com.au/maroons-origin-history/ [dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Lonesome Cowboy Sing has no regrets". 12 December 2004.
  12. ^ "The seven biggest NRL finals upsets". Daily Telegraph. 15 September 2015.
  13. ^ "Matt Sing hangs up rep boots » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Rauhihi urges Sing to play rep footy". 10 April 2005.
  15. ^ "ABC Sport - Rugby League - Sing signs for Hull". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  16. ^ "On-song Hull tie up deal for Cowboy Sing". 6 June 2006.
  17. ^ "Challenge Cup 2008 | Sport | the Guardian". TheGuardian.com.
  18. ^ "No plans to stay in rugby - Sing". 8 June 2008.
  19. ^ "Sing and Hill begin journeys into the sunset". TheGuardian.com. 6 September 2008.
  20. ^ Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Matt Sing - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  21. ^ "Rockhampton News | the Morning Bulletin | for all your news and events around Rockhampton, Morning Bulletin has you covered. Get the latest updates on sport and local news. | the Courier Mail".
  22. ^ "Rockhampton News | the Morning Bulletin | for all your news and events around Rockhampton, Morning Bulletin has you covered. Get the latest updates on sport and local news. | the Courier Mail".
  23. ^ "Queensland Rugby League:: QRL.com.au". Archived from the original on 14 September 2009.
  24. ^ "Our first Hall of Fame inductees!". 17 May 2015.
  25. ^ "Introducing your 20-year team!". 17 May 2015.
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