Hundreds of children converged on Hunter Stadium on Friday to take part in the Red Energy Danny Buderus Super Clinic.
Former Newcastle Knights' hooker, Danny Buderus was among a sea of red as the budding league players filled the field at Hunter Stadium to learn league skills from the celebrated NRL great.
More than 400 children took part in the Newcastle based clinic on Friday with the a clinic drawing 130 participants the day before in Taree. Earlier in the week an NRL run clinic at Aberdeen attracted more than 250 children.
According to the Newcastle Knights' Community Rugby League Manager Matt Lantry, the rugby league clinics provide young participants with a unique and rare opportunity to learn from one of the game's most talented and respected players.
"It's fantastic for the game. We've had plenty of kids having lots of fun in a controlled and safe environment which is what weekend footy is all about," Lantry said.
"Danny provides them a wealth of experience and knowledge and he's been running around coaching the kids and providing some feedback and covering certains skills in relation to tackling, catch and passing and lots of game sense stuff.
"Hopefully some of the skills will either be transferrable either into the back yard or out with their junior league clubs on the weekend."
The clinic continues to grow in appeal and attendance in its fourth year and has become something Buderus is particularly passionate about.
"The kids are having a lot of fun and their skills are improving over the years," Buderus said.
The Australian Test and NSW Origin representative returned to the where it all started, the regional town of Taree on Thursday as part of the Super Clinic schedule.
"I'm from Taree and am a bush kid and I just wanted to stand in front of them and say that they could live out a bit of a dream," he said.
"It's great for the game and everyone seems to playing from a grassroots level."
Another important element of the clinics is aimed at increasing parents' understanding of the game and the measures in place that allow both boys and girls to enjoy rugby league safely.
"I guess it's about their kids taking the field and them having full confidence in what they are doing," he said.
The clinic host could already see some stars of the future among the group.
Kacey Drummond a rugby league development officer in the Hunter region said the NRL supported the event with staff assisting with the coaching stations as well as in promoting and building participant numbers.
Kacey said the clinics are a great way to engage young players in rugby league and even establishes the sport as a passion for many.
"They absolutely love it, you can just see the excitment on their faces as soon as he says anything and they just absorb anything he says."
