Illawarra connection banding together for a cause

The brainchild of Wollongong Wolves coach Luke Wilkshire, the Illawarra Codes Combined Golf Day saw players and fans from the region's big three sporting franchises take to the links to raise funds for bushfire relief on Monday.

Funds will be divided between the NSW RFS, Wires and Salvation Army Disaster Relief Appeal, with Wilkshire praising all three clubs for bringing the day together.

"It's fantastic, it's great to see the three codes together for a great cause and see people come out and sponsor and back it," Wilkshire said.

"It's all about the region and the people that have been affected by the bushfires and I'm very proud to see the turnout. It takes a lot of people that put in a lot of time and effort to make this happen."

Hawks coach Matt Flinn and his side shrugged off the disappointment of Sunday's abandoned clash with the Breakers to take part on an ironically sunny day.

"If it does rain the Hawks have got a good deal on ponchos going," Flinn joked.

"I'm pretty proud of the fact that all three codes have local coaches and Luke was straight on the phone when all this was happening saying 'mate we've got to do something about this'.

"An hour later Mary [Paul McGregor] was on the phone as well so it really just came together naturally. We're all local and its great to see everyone put it back in.

"I'm really proud to be a part of it, proud our club's a part of it, and hats' off to everyone who's come her and taken a day off to support and put their hand in their pockets."

Dragons coach Paul McGregor was on holiday at Lake Conjola when the unprecedented blaze hit the South Coast, one of the last to be evacuated when the call came.

The Dragons also spent last week on the South Coast conducting coaching clinics, visiting schools and community organisations and helping with clean-up efforts.

McGregor said seeing the affected communities up close made the significance of the struggle hit home.

"It was really close to the players last week when we went down as far as Cobargo there and saw the devastation that the fires left in that community," McGregor said.

"The big thing that came out of that for us was how proud they should be of their community and how much people care for one another. It's great to see the turnout we've got today. It's a unique situation, it's the first time this has happened with the three codes.

"When I got the phone call the first thing I said was 'what do you need us to do?' The credit really should go to the administration staff of the clubs and how hard they've worked to make the day so special."

As for who to watch on the course, McGregor answered with tongue in cheek.

"Zac Lomax will tell you he is, Paul Vaughan will argue with him and closely behind that'd be Blake Lawrie," he said.

"If Paul Vaughan's doing something, Blake Lawrie's doing it better so there'll be plenty of good chat around that."