The games against the Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights will test the local players from Groups 4, 19 and 21 and put what they have learned over the summer into practice.

“Today’s session is all about final preparations for our first game,” head coach Jamie McCormack said.

“The Academy is not about winning or losing games.

“They give us an idea as coaching staff of how much they’ve improved and shows the players what all their hard work in the heat of Tamworth over the summer is for.”

McCormack will take control of the GNA Maroon squad, made up of the Academy’s younger players, while Chris Brennan will coach the older Yellow squad.

Those teams trained together on Sunday with the focus very much on team work.

But up against teams from the NRL system, the country kids will find the pace of the game and size of their opponents on another level.

“The Knights side will have played three trial games before they play us,” McCormack said.

“So they’ll have match fitness and they trained twice a week.

“But I don’t expect us to be any less talented or competitive.”

The teams will be named later in the week.

The game was originally set down for Kurri Kurri Sportsground but problems with the playing surface there have meant a move up the road to Cessnock.