The camp was open to any player between the age of 12 and 16, and attracted interest from all over the state. 

Singleton’s Luke Rees attended the camp this week for the fifth year in succession.

“It is good fun and it keeps you playing good footy,” Rees said.

Greater Northern Rugby League regional manager Scott Bone said  the camp attracted a variety of players from beginners to representative players.

The camp included sessions with Newcastle Knights high performance unit director Col Sanctuary, as well as Knights development officer Laurie Clifton.

Sanctuary worked with the older age groups, putting them through their paces.

“He did a lot of speed and agility exercises with the boys,” Bone said.”  

Everything he did and showed the boys they could take home and do it themselves.”

Clifton worked with the younger players and had them looking at core skills. Clifton is the Knights Chargers coach, which is their academy team. He also coaches Central Newcastle first grade.

“He did a lot of games with the boys, ” Bone said.

“The games he was doing with them could be worked in to real games.

“Having both those coaches here was a real bonus and they left the boys with a lot of new skills and drills.” Bone said.

Bone also made the boys do a lot of goal-setting exercises. They were made to set goals for this season and their future.

 The coach said skills in country areas were definitely improving because of camps like this one.  

“There is a lot more opportunity for players to get involved with games and camps like this,” Bone said. 

“It just makes their skills a bit better and makes them better players.

“The players will now go back to their clubs next week and hope to be picked in the Group sides. 

The Greater Northern Championships will see Groups 4, 19, and 21 play each other at Scully Park on 

May 17.