The Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels held training sessions in Bega ahead of Saturday's sold out big preseason clash, giving fans the chance to meet their favourite professional players in the flesh and away from the big screen and commercialism of the sport.

Forty-three-year-old Chris Aldridge, a die-hard Penrith supporter for almost 40 years, said with his favourite player Ivan Cleary now at the helm, he was excited to see the team play in his home town.

"It's just great how they've come down here to do this, because we all need a boost up," Mr Aldridge said.

The the United Nations' Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport and Development says sport can provide a sense of normalcy after a natural disaster, with football recently helping the community of Christchurch in New Zealand after last year's mass shooting at a mosque.

In 2015, a University of Memphis study found sport can play a key role in community disaster relief efforts via "donations, emotional support, spreading awareness and enabling psychological recovery".

A 2011 study by the North Carolina State University focusing on the role of professional football in the wake of Hurricane Katrina found sport to be a "powerful tool for helping to rebuild communities in the wake of disasters".

"Sports, and by extension sports media, can be a powerful force for good. It can bring people together. It can provide hope, even in the midst of great destruction," the university's professor of communication Dr Ken Zagacki said.

"But we have to be careful that we don't use sports to gloss over real problems. We don't want to 'move on' from tragedies like Katrina when real social problems remain."

Pambula-born Parramatta tragic Mark Smith, who evacuated the bushfires while on holiday in Merimbula, drove from Melbourne through areas of forest devastated by fire through the night just to see his beloved Eels train.

"On the drive up you can see burnt and melted signs from Orbost, some of the ground looks like the moon," he said.

He will be returning to home with the family's camping trailer, left behind at his brother's home during the mass-evacuation or tourists in early January.

"We had to drive home through Albury which took 10 and a half hours, but I'm glad we left when we did," he said.

"One thing that amazed me during the whole thing was that the smoke was so thick you could barely see, and people were still outside."

He brought his family along, with hopes he could convince his eight-year-old daughter Chellah to take up the yellow and blue.

"My dad went for Parramatta, so I had no chance, and at that time they were the best team in the league. Fingers crossed they play at their potential this season," he said.

"Growing up there were players like Brett Kenny and Peter Stirling, and when I played for Eden Steve Ella and Stuart Raper came to coach us."

Perhaps the biggest fan at the ground was 20-year-old Mitchell Geeson who follows the Penrith team across the country with his grandfather Warren Kreckler, whose Maitland home came close to the fires.

"You have to follow your club and go every week - win, lose or draw," Mr Geeson said.

"It's great to bring the game down here because we can help raise money after the bushfires."

He spent time with his favourite footballer Mitchell Moses, nephew of legend Benny Elias and star of the Lebanese national team. Moses would later star in the drawn historic trial game, saving one try and scoring two for himself.

"I used to be a Newcastle fan, but when I was five we went to the old Parramatta stadium and that was it," Mr Geeson said.

Mr Kreckler, himself an Eels supporter of 45 years, said Mr Geeson was so passionate about the game as a child he would throw a tantrum if his beloved Eels ever lost.

"We're looking good for this year, with more signings and the top try scorer in the league then if we can keep our head and keep consistent we'll have a good shot.," Mr Geeson said.

Player's association representative and recently retired player Jamie Buhrer said players have enjoyed being part of the recovery.

"It's a good opportunity to come down and give back to a community that's been so badly hit," he said.

"You can see with the kids who love sport in general we can change people's mindsets, even if it's just for 80 minutes of the game.

"Players want to play in country areas because it's rewarding for everyone. The players get a lot out of it because they see the effect they have on people.

"This is more than Penrith and Parramatta."

Parramatta fanatic Sharon Cook shared a laugh with her one-time local hockey league opponent turned professional footballer Kezie Apps, who was one of a string of prominent names, including former professional surfer Kai Otton, in Bega for the training session.

"It's really good for the community to come together and lift spirits," Ms Cook said.

"I met the team in Cobargo, so it's just been a childhood dream come true.

"It's so good for the kids that I think all the teams should come down."