NRL: Warriors rally for relief funds in NZ and Oz

Simon Mannering of the Warriors dives over to score with Lewis Brown in support. Photo / Getty Images

First, they offered a helping hand to the Pike River region after the mine disaster. Now the Warriors have initiated a support relief effort following Australia's flooding tragedy.

Using the NRL league club's host of Queensland connections, it is looking to ease some of the suffering in communities devastated by the disaster. The club is making a $10,000 donation to the relief fund and will assist with local league clubs' rebuilding efforts by providing signed jerseys to those in towns most affected.

The team will also visit and stay in one of the affected towns during one of their three visits to Queensland during the coming season. They play North Queensland (round 15), Gold Coast (18) and Brisbane (22). Bucket collections will be carried out during trial matches and the first round opener against Parramatta at Eden Park on March 12.

Recently-retired Steve Price is from Toowoomba, one of the worst-affected communities. He was in his home town with his family at the time of the devastation.

Of the 2011 squad, vice-captain Micheal Luck, centre Joel Moon, new signing Shaun Berrigan, halfback Brett Seymour and former State of Origin back rower Jacob Lillyman are all Queenslanders. Forward Steve Rapira spent the last two seasons with the Cowboys in Townsville.

Luck hails from the town of Gatton, west of Brisbane. Situated in the Lockyer Valley, it was one of the hardest-hit communities.

"It has been frightening being here in New Zealand and seeing what has been happening at home," he said. "Thankfully my family was unharmed but that hasn't made it any easier coming to terms with the lives lost and the damage caused..

"We just want to do something to help, especially those of us from places that were so badly hit."

Seymour, born and raised in Mackay in North Queensland, echoed Luck's sentiments: "My home town wasn't badly hit but it's been dreadful watching the news. It'll be good when we're in Queensland, trying to make some sort of difference."

The Warriors will play a charity match against Newcastle in Greymouth on February 5 to raise funds and lift the spirits on the West Coast after 29 lives were lost in the Pike River mining tragedy.