A horde of young league lovers descended on Tuncurry's Harry Elliott Oval yesterday afternoon, February 26, to meet Canterbury Bulldogs' first grade rugby league team.
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Big name stars like Dylan Napa, Dallen Watene-Zelezniak and Josh Jackson joined more than 100 local Group Three juniors for some friendly games of touch football before posing for photos and signing autographs.
The team was in town ahead of a trial match against the Canberra Raiders at Port Macquarie on Saturday.
Bulldogs' media manager, David Townsend, said the club wanted to help lift spirits in the area after last year's devastating bushfires.
"We just wanted to get into communities and raise some spirits," he said.
"The kids love seeing all the players they see on TV."
With a development partnership in place between the Bulldogs and Group Two and Group Three Rugby League on the North Coast, the club is no stranger to the area.
"Every time we come up here it's fantastic," Mr Townsend said.
"Any time our boys can go and meet kids, they love it."
He said the players were feeling confident ahead of their clash against the Raiders, following a 30-18 win over the Cronulla Sharks in a trial match in Papua New Guinea last weekend.
"The guys worked hard in the preseason," Mr Townsend said.
"There's some good spirit among the group."
The match will kick off at Port Macquarie Regional Stadium on Saturday, February 29 at 4:30pm.
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