The shield pays homage to legends of both clubs, Merewether's Neil "Noodles" Adams and Wanderers' John "Fats" Halter.

The shield will be contested on or around ANZAC Day each year and involve senior and junior teams. More than 600 participants will be involved on Saturday with the first junior game to kick off at 8am. The shield will be determined on point score over all games, with two points for a win and one for a draw.

Neil Adams is a Greens legend. In 1942 he served in the 2/32 Battalion in the Pacific. A front-rower, he toured with the 1955 Wallabies to New Zealand.

Singleton-born Halter is a Wanderers great. He began at the Two Blues in 1949, represented NSW Country, NSW and was a reserve for Australia.

There will be a short ceremony and both club captains will lay a wreath before first grade kick-off..

** Singleton No.8 Jale Saukelea remains in John Hunter Hospital under observation, with bleeding on the brain after suffering a head knock in the loss to Maitland.

The powerhouse back-rower, one of a host of Fijians who have joined the club this season, showed signs of concussion after the match and was assessed by the club doctor. He hadn't improved by Monday and was admitted to hospital.

Close relative Paulina Lalaciwa, who works at the hospital and has helped with the integration of the Fijians into the Singleton community, has been by his bedside.

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** A minute silence was observed before the start of the derby between Maitland and Singleton in honour of Blacks' club members Jon Runchel, Colin "Hornet" McIntyre and Michelle Cockbain who have passed away since last game in 2019.

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