NSW Blues coach and rugby league legend Brad "Freddy" Fittler may have been talking to the converted at Kurri Kurri Sportsground, but if the code needed an advertisement to entice youngsters to play it was here.
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It was spread across Fittler's face and those of the enthusiastic kids, parents and grandparents who attended - HUGE SMILES.
The clinic headed by Fittler and NSW Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder was a reminder of just how much fun playing footy with your mates, and even kids you've not met before, can be.
"It tells me kids are just dying to get out and kick a football around and play," he said.
"We need to make sure that rugby league is an option for them if they want to get into a team sport."
Fittler has been on the road over the past week riding across NSW on his Harley promoting the game and encouraging junior registrations.
While the emphasis has been about getting kids involved, a clear message has been coming through that the parents involved as volunteers and supporting their children at games are getting lots from their involvement as well.
"We are trying to go around and just talk about rugby league and just talking about kids getting involved in their community and team sport," he said.
"I haven't had to talk much here (Kurri Kurri and the Hunter) as they are already involved.
"I think parents have got to take a really strong hand here and get involved by volunteering and getting their kids to sports and showing their kids what it's like to be involved.
"You can see up in this area by how many kids are involved it shows there are a lot of parents involved."
Fittler acknowledged that in the post-Covid environment everyone seemed busy trying to make up on lost time.
"Everyone is busy, there is a lot going on but if they just slow down a bit and get back involved in their kids' lives it will benefit them so much," he said.
"The key thing from all the people I've met who on this trip is that they are just so happy, which says a lot about volunteering and getting involved in community sport."
Fittler said it was apparent Kurri Kurri and the Hunter in general was still very much rugby league heartland.
"I think it says a lot when you turn up at the start of summer and there are that many kids around," he said.
"They all know how to play, they all know who the players are, they know what is going on, they know State of Origin, the footy teams, it is just really encouraging from my point of view.
"In asking the kids where they are from, they are from everywhere it's not just Kurri Kurri it is pretty much the whole of the Hunter region.
"I think everyone is excited to get out. I think there is real encouragement that rugby league is offering a few different options. There is tackle, league tag and touch and I don't think the popularity is going backwards."
The growth in women's league has been one of the most exciting developments in recent years and Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder was delighted to oversee a session with a group of teenage girls who play with clubs across the Hunter.
"I love coming to clinics like this and especially being able to work with the girls," Hilder, a former NSW and Australian representative player, siad.
"The women's game is growing we've got over 20,000 females registered to play rugby league this year so we're hoping to increase that number.
This is a great opportunity to come out and promote it.
"It's a privilege to be honest to be able to teach these young girls and show them there's a pathway for them in rugby league. It is not all about the boys.
"They've got some really good pathways we are building in NSW leading up to the NRLW and locally here the Knights."