THE last day of school holidays was a busy day at Farrer as winter and summer spots already began to overlap with two two- day camps.
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While the second day of a NSW Sport and Recreation-backed Emerging Rugby League talent camp saw kids passing and kicking balls around on the top field, just below, balls of a different shape were being hit around the nets on the first day of a NSW Emerging Blues cricket camp.
On Thursday, 55 boys aged 10, 11 and 12 from all over the region and northern NSW were put through some basic rugby league skills before moving on to some higher-intensity skill sets at the hands of Regional Development Officer Zac Russ.
“We are looking at fine-tuning their basic skills sets,” Russ said.
“We also want to work on their game sense and generally just make them better players.”
The young stars have been targeted through representative sides and then sent invitations to the camp.
“The players and their parents especially have shown a lot of commitment to come to the camp both days,” Russ said.
“Some of the parents have driven hours each way both days and even taken days off work.”
The final day saw the kids taken through what they learnt on Thursday, as well as some opposed work before they got to put their new knowledge to the test.
The afternoon saw the kids split into three groups named after the top three NRL teams – Manly Sea Eagles, Canterbury Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers.
But the Manly moniker didnlt appeal to the juniors who voted to change their name to the Storm.
The Bulldogs, Storm and Panthers then played games against each other yesterday afternoon before returning home to line up for their respective junior league sides tomorrow.
Russ believes the recent success of NSW in the State of Origin may have built up the numbers this year.
“We only had 36 at the camp last year so 55 this year is great.
“It is another great opportunity for the young guys to get out and play rugby league.”