In half-term week, Saints ran their most successful player development and talent ID camp to support participation in the game and boost numbers at local clubs such as Liverpool Lions, Liverpool Storm and Kirkby Cougars. Over 60 lads from Liverpool took part in the camp, the majority of which were from the Lions.

Players learnt how to play the Saints way with elite training at the Lions home ground of De La Salle Academy in Croxteth. Most encouraging for the Saints was that some of the Liverpool players have been recruited to the St Helens service area, which is the first step on the player pathway to professional rugby league.

Ian Talbot, lead community rugby league coach commented: “I’d be being liberal with the truth if I said we weren’t keeping an eye out for children who possess the attributes to play elite rugby league. We have our heartlands, but if you can pick up new talented young sports people then there is no reason why they can’t join our scholarship schemes in the future.”

Now working with key agencies in Merseyside and armed with a long-term strategy, Saints are hoping to get the sports-mad youngsters of the city on the rugby field. The club is busier than ever in the area thanks to support from the RFL, Liverpool NHS Primary Care Trust and Saints Community Development Foundation.

Ian Talbot explained: “Our work in Liverpool and Knowsley has increased massively in recent months thanks to the support of our partners.

Our goal has been to take the game to as many people in the area as possible and to sustain their participation for the long term. There is little value in giving a taster of our great sport to someone and moving on. We intend to get the young people to fully understand the fundamentals of the game first and then signpost them to the established local clubs to increase participation and development.

We believe the current clubs are well enough equipped to ensure that the correct pathways are in place for boys and girls to enjoy rugby league for many years to come.”

Basic coaching and physical training will make up the majority of the coaching resources at a total of 37 primary, secondary and special educational needs schools across the boroughs.

Saints coach Adam Daniels is always taking time away from the training pitch to encourage healthy lifestyle messages to children and parents.

He said: “We’ve always known the interest in sport in the city is massive and we are under no illusion that football will always dominate the sporting landscape; however, we are better placed than ever to introduce our game and offer a different option.”

Training in schools will step up in the coming months and, with the help of officers from Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, more than 30 schools will receive coaching before the summer Liverpool World Cup tournament for primary schools.

It is projects like this that will run throughout the calendar year as Saints look to attract more participants to the game and more supporters through the turnstiles.