For three days this week members of the Canberra Raiders Football Club toured the area delivering simple, yet effective message of ‘Eat Well, Play Well, Stay Well’.

Considering the players visited more than 50 schools and spoke directly to an estimated 11,000 primary and secondary students, the message has been received loud and clear.

On Wednesday it was Cootamundra’s turn.

Three busloads of Raiders players rolled into town where they spent close on an hour at the Cootamundra Public School, Sacred Heart Central School, EA Southee and Coota High.

It was the cream of the crop, with the likes of Terry Campese, Alan Tongue, Dane Tilse, Josh McCrone, Josh Miller and Troy Thompson among the Raiders first grade stars in attendance.

However, there was no doubting who was the crowd favourite, with former Cootamundra Bulldog Glen Buttriss a huge hit with the kids at both his old stamping ground at Coota Public as well as Sacred Heart.

Buttriss received thunderous applause when

introduced to the students at Coota Public, going on to describe his career to date and his hopes for the immediate future, that is to play plenty of top grade and top quality football for the Raiders this year.

All schools students were given the opportunity to ask the NRL stars questions, with many of the inquiries having been well thought out while others had the players, staff and fellow students in stitches.

The message for the day was not necessarily for the kids to become instant Raiders fans.

Some support rival teams, some don’t follow rugby league at all, however for at least an hour on Wednesday, the Raiders were top dogs.

More photos from the Raiders’ visit appear on page 15 of today’s edition.