RUGBY league legend Robbie Hunter-Paul has hailed his first summer High Performance Academy Camp a big success.
It was the first time the Giants’ business development manager has embarked on such a project, with children aged between 11 and 15 getting an insight of what it is like to be a professional player.
The inaugural camp was full of energy and enthusiasm as the former New Zealand international and Bradford and Giants star offered professional aid and training with video analysis sessions and a mixture of training drills the Giants Super League squad practice on a regular basis.
Huddersfield players Tommy Lee and Greg Eden were also available to lend a helping hand on day two.
Hunter-Paul, who hopes his second camp, which gets under way at The Zone on Thursday, proves just as successful, said: “What an exciting two days they were!
“It was a lot of hard work but also a lot of fun.
“We broke the two days down into four sections.
“On day one we gave the young athletes a taste of video analysis, delivered in the same vein as if they were full-time pros.
“They were then introduced to the gym environment, where they were taught techniques and the philosophies for gym exercises.
“Then we delivered fundamental grip and passing drills, looking at how to improve skill levels by introducing tricks of the trade only the pros know.
“The next day and a half was spent on Leeds Road Playing Fields looking at all areas of the game from sprinting improvement using cords and harnesses to kicking and tackle techniques.
“We also decided to introduce an unconventional skill station where we looked the fundamentals of passing behind the back as well as the footwork used for the perfect back-handed flick pass as used by Leroy Cudjoe.
“Throughout the whole two days we constantly threw in skills games that helped with thinking under pressure.
“Both days we finished off with a full pitch game so the young athletes were able to put all that they had learnt into practice.
“I have to say I have loved every moment of the two days and can’t wait for the second.
“We have worked hard to perfect the skills stations and the feedback from the lads has been awesome.”
Hunter-Paul’s second High Performance Academy Camp is on Thursday and Friday.
