NRL match is a chance to ignite flame of local juniors

The impact of this game can't be underestimated, writes Maroons coach and Fox League analyst KEVIN WALTERS

ENTERTAINING: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck of the Warriors has that wow factor. Picture: DAVID ROWLAND

RUGBY LEAGUE: There's been plenty of talk about expansion in the NRL this season, it's been front, center and back page news with every commentator, journalist and fan offering an opinion on where the next NRL franchise should be.

Expansion may or may not be on the cards for the NRL, but this weekend the game does something that I believe is extremely important and that's take an NRL game to a regional area.

Sunshine Coast Stadium this weekend will be a sea of NRL jerseys, some will be there to barrack for the Bunnies, some will be there to cheer on the Warriors and others will be there because it will be the only chance they get this year to see an NRL game live.

The impact of this weekend's game can't be underestimated, for kids to get the chance to see the likes of representative stars Sam Burgess, Damien Cook, Dane Gagai, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Adam Blair in person is huge.

For some youngsters it will be the first time they've had to the chance to watch an NRL game live.

It's a chance to ignite a flame in the juniors on the Sunshine Coast and surrounding areas, to show them that their dreams of playing professional rugby league is attainable.

I remember when I was a kid in the late 70s when the Australian team came to Ipswich to train.

My dad took my brothers and I along to watch our heroes and I couldn't believe how big the players were, I couldn't believe that the players that I'd seen on TV were real.

It's moments like that when you're a kid that stick with you forever and the juniors on the Sunshine Coast will get that same experience this weekend.

As a player there is nothing better than getting the chance to play in a regional area.

There's an electricity around town in the lead-up to the game that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Houses and shopfronts are littered with colours and streamers representing both sides, people passing you in the street stop and wave and beep their horns and make you feel like you're part of their community.

As a player you get a sense of just how much our game means to the people who support it.

Sunshine Coast Stadium is absolutely first class, the playing surface is outstanding and with a packed house on Saturday afternoon the atmosphere will be incredible.

I'm looking forward to getting to the ground early to watch the Sunshine Coast Falcons take on Easts Tigers in the Intrust Super Cup, both sides are undefeated this year and both play a really attractive brand of football.

The NRL action is guaranteed to be first class as well. The South Sydney Rabbitohs will be looking to bounce back after a tough, golden point loss to Manly Sea Eagles last weekend, while the Warriors will be looking to flex their muscles away from home.

The battle in the engine room will be one not to be missed with the Burgess boys taking on a Warriors pack including New Zealand internationals Tohu Harris and Adam Blair.

The Warriors caused a boil over in Round 1 last year when they beat the Rabbitohs in Perth and they'll be well and truly up to the task again this weekend.

If you can't get to the game on Saturday afternoon make sure you watch all the action LIVE, ad-break free during play and in HD on Fox League from 3pm.