YOUNG TALENT: Broncos players Matt Gillett, left, and Ben Hennant caught up with scholarship holders Kalyn Ponga and Ashton Windsor.

YOUNG TALENT: Broncos players Matt Gillett, left, and Ben Hennant caught up with scholarship holders Kalyn Ponga and Ashton Windsor. Charlie Payne

THE Brisbane Broncos are impressed by the footballing talent coming out of Mackay.

Broncos front rower Ben Hannant and back rower Matt Gillett worked with young players at Victoria Park State School and Mackay State High School during a visit which will also take in Moranbah this weekend.

Their audience included four Mackay High players with NRL club scholarships - Ashton Windsor (Storm), Kalyn Ponga (Broncos), Kellen Jenner (Cowboys) and John O'Brien (Broncos talent identification).

Ponga, a fullback for Souths U15, said he was planning to go down to Brisbane next year, after signing a two-year scholarship with the Broncos.

"I've been to training sessions down at Red Hill and I get some gear from them," he said.

"I've seen the Broncos in training, but I haven't actually been training with them.

"I'm keen to keep working hard and see where it leads."

Windsor said he had been down to Brisbane for trials and training with the Storm, and would attend an annual camp at Melbourne in December for a week.

A centre or winger, he plays for Norths U15.

"Their recruitment manager picked me up when I was attending a carnival," Windsor said.

"I'm happy, they're the best club out."

Both players are members of the school's rugby league academy.

Broncos development officer, former player Michael Devere, said young players keen to make a career of the NRL needed several attributes.

"They've got to be good players with a good attitude and work ethic," he said.

"It's not always natural ability that gets you there.

"If you work hard and have the commitment needed, and you've got the talent as well, if you put that all together you've got the next Darren Lockyer."

About 100 members of the school's rugby league academy ran through drills with the NRL players.

The school is planning the academy's fourth visit to England next year, involving about 20 players.