TWENTY-two years ago when Luke Single played his first game of competitive rugby league it was in the blue and white colours of Saint Pat's, so when the talented forward moved back to Bathurst it was an easy choice which club to contact.
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On Tuesday afternoon he signed on to play for the Saints in season 2020.
"There was really no other choice," Single said. "I didn't even look at any other club, I didn't talk to anyone else."
Single returns to Group 10 after a five-year stint playing for the West Rosellas in the Newcastle competition. He in the main played at lock for the reserve grade outfit and enjoyed plenty of success.
"I was there five years and I made four grand finals and won two," the 27-year-old said.
"I played mostly reserve grade, I was in and out of first grade, because a lot of guys up there have previously played NRL or are on their way to playing there."
Single's first season with the Rosellas in 2015 saw them go down by one point to Lakes United in a 19-18 grand final thriller.
The following season his side against suffered a narrow loss to Lakes in the decider - suffering a 22-20 defeat - but in 2017 Single celebrated a title success as the Rosellas beat Western Suburbs 31-21 on grand final day.
In 2018 Single's side made it to the elimination semi-final while he marked his final match for the club this year with another reserve grade premiership victory, beating Western Suburbs 18-16.
READ MORE: What led to Tigers withdrawing from Group 10
During that time Single still kept an eye on what the Saints were doing in Group 10 and when deciding to move back to Bathurst, he quickly made signing up with his former club a priority.
"I kept an eye on what they'd been doing, I'd always check with Mum and Dad what the scores were and every now and then come watch the footy," he said.
"I moved back to be closer to the family, my girlfriend is pregnant, she's due in March, so we wanted to be closer to the family and I got a job with the Department of Education and Training."
Just as Single enjoyed a good run of success while with the Rosellas, he's also won premierships with the Saints - a club he first played for as a five-year-old.
Single was part of the 2014 St Pat's side which won the premier league grand final against Cowra, scoring one of the Saints' tries as they posted a 34-12 victory.
That added to an under 18s premiership from 2009.
Naturally Single is keen to add another title to his resume next season and is eager to learn from player-coach Zac Merritt, who will join him in the forward pack.
"Playing under Zac is going to be good and we've got a fair few numbers of good recruits coming through, so hopefully we can make it back into the finals and be competitive once again. That's definitely the goal for us," he said.
"We've got a strong forward pack which is always good, hopefully we can get on the front foot and see how it goes."
While Merritt said the Saints are still looking to add to their playing roster - a centre, fullback and halfback on his wish list - he is delighted to have Single in his squad for next year.
"It's great to have 'Buckets' back, he'll stiffen up our forward pack," he said. "I'm definitely looking forward to playing with him."
