And that’s without a ball being kicked.

Event coordinator David Whittock said Port Macquarie would host the event for the fifth time when it kicks off on Sunday.

That’s more than has been held in any other regional centre.

“Port Macquarie is just a venue that loans itself to sporting events because everything is just so close to the ground,” he said.

In previous years the championships have provided a pathway for players to progress on to a career in the National Rugby League.

Players such as Jack Bird, Mitchell Pearce, Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses and Dylan Walker are just a handful of names to have played in these championships.

Every state in the country will have teams representing them with the showcase match to be played on Sunday at 3pm at Regional Stadium.

It sees New South Wales Combined High Schools tackle Queensland.

The NSWCHS side also features Wauchope teenager David Hollis.

“I’ve been fortunate to coach David at school for the last three years in the 13s, 14s and 15s and he’s a kid that I’ve found to be potentially a great player,” Whittock said.

“He’s a current Australian discus champion in his age so that’s the style of kid he is.”

Whittock said the NSWCHS side would benefit from Hollis’s mistake-free brand of football.

“He doesn’t look to run wide, he does all the tough stuff and that’s why he got picked.”

The championships run on a matrix system where every state has a turn to run them, but there is a move afoot to go to set venues.

“The three set venues they talk up most of the time are Wynnum in Brisbane, St Mary’s in Sydney and Port Macquarie,” Whittock said.

“It’s a first-class facility and the groundsman Kerry Lewis could get a job with any NRL club in Australia because he’s that good and we’re lucky enough to have him here doing our job for us.”

Whittock and co-organiser Paul Walsh said the event is seen as a prestigious event.

This was evidenced when the under 18 New South Wales side was forced to train on the number two ground when they visited the Hastings earlier this week.

“Brad Fittler is another guy who has played at these championships and he’s the under 18 coach,” Walsh said.

“When he was told the number one ground was closed in preparation for the national championships he thought what a great idea to keep it pristine for such a prestigious event.

“He knows the springboard this can be for young kids to come through and develop their game. A guy of his ability didn’t have any qualms when council told him to go and train on the number two oval.”

Walsh and Whittock can’t wait for the action to get underway.

“It’s going to be a magnificent community event culminating in a great week of football,” Walsh said.