The build-up to tomorrow night’s Coral Challenge Cup clash between Workington Town and Leeds Rhinos reached fever pitch on Wednesday when hordes of local youngsters descended on Derwent Park for a coaching camp run jointly by the two clubs.

With four of Leeds’ top stars joining in with the kids alongside Town coach Leon Pryce and players Jamie Doran and Karl Olstrom, the day was a resounding success.

Stevie Ward, Konrad Hurrell, Cameron Smith and Dan Waite-Pullen all answered questions from the youngsters before taking to the field with them, watched by Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington.

He was delighted with the turnout as part of the build-up to the big game at Headingley.

“The Leeds club are always keen to help rugby league development and in West Cumbria there is such a passion for the game,” he said.

“So to bring some of our leading players, along with staff from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation to assist with the coaching camp, it is all part of very good relationship that we have with Workington Town.”

One of the club’s stars, Tongan international Konrad Hurrell, said this was what the magic of the Challenge Cup could provide – an outlet for youngsters to meet their idols and increase their interest in the game.

“This is great for us to be able to do,” he said. “We are giving back to the community and to see all the kids playing and that they are all buzzing.

“They want to run around with the Super League players and that is great to see.

“This is part of the job. We are not just here to play, we need to give back and whether we like it or not we are role models.”

Centre Hurrell admitted he was looking forward to the game and sees it as a chance for Leeds to turn around their poor start to the season.

But he added that they will be expecting Workington to come at them full throttle.

“We are all looking forward to it,” he added. “We haven’t had a great start to the season but hopefully we can turn it around.

“This is a home game but Workington will be excited to come and play us.

“It will be another tough game for us, especially as Town will want to come at us and surprise us.”

Mascots from both clubs, Workington Town’s Spike and Leeds’ Ronnie the Rhino, were also in attendance and entertained the children with a quick race.

All the youngsters who attended on the day received a Leeds Rhino goody bag, including a flag, car sticker, mini ball and autograph book, plus a Workington Town pen, wrist band and a junior rover season ticket.