The five-year-old fan who went viral after TV cameras captured him in tears as his Wests Tigers heroes were thumped by Cronulla on Sunday has been raised on weekly re-runs of the clubโs 2005 NRL grand final triumph.
Noah Deguaraโs father made him watch the Tigersโ victory in the premiership decider so often that he began thinking they were unbeatable whenever they took the field.
Dad Cori Deguara did not see much merit in exposing his boy to some of the Tigersโ more recent seasons, which saw them collect three wooden spoons.
So the sight of his favourites being thumped 52-10 at Ocean Protect Stadium was more than a tearful Noah could bear. Matters werenโt helped by big sister Olivia, a 20-year-old Cronulla fan, who couldnโt contain her laughter at Noahโs expense โ though she did give him a consoling cuddle.
โI gave it to him a bit,โ Olivia admitted on Tuesday. โIt was funny, but I was also actually hoping theyโd win so I could see him excited.โ
Cori said it had broken his heart to see his boy so upset, and blamed himself for indoctrinating him into the Tigers cause.
โNoahโs older brother and sisters have been trying to convert him to the Roosters or Panthers or Sharks, especially because the Tigers kept losing,โ Cori said. โEveryone has been trying to bribe him. I almost lost him for a second, but heโs stayed staunch.
โI kept showing Noah replays of the 2005 grand final. Heโd watch that game every week, which is why he loves [Tigers coach] Benji [Marshall] so much.
โHe was under the impression the Tigers won every week. I didnโt have the heart to show him some of their other games.
โNow heโs old enough to understand the Tigers donโt always win. You saw that on Sunday. At least heโs had a bit more to cheer this season.
โHe still loves them, especially Benji and Jarome Luai. Heโs played footy since he was three years of age, and is always trying the Benji and Jarome step. He plays with the Caringbah Sharks, and was man of the match on the weekend.โ
This masthead asked Nicho Hynes to record a video for Noah, and the Sharks star was happy to oblige. โSorry to see you get upset on the big screen on the weekend,โ Hynes told Noah. โHope youโre doing well now. Itโs always a pleasure having people like you at the game who get emotional and ride the performances with the players.
โItโs never too late to become a Sharkie, if you want to switch over to the good side. All the best. Iโll maybe see you at Shark Park again next year. Up Up.โ
The Tigers were touched by Noahโs display of raw emotion, and plan to give him the ultimate game-day experience when they return home in the coming weeks.
Noah himself was in a much better mood in the brilliant sunshine at Cronulla on Tuesday.
โI was crying because the Tigers lost,โ he told this masthead. โMy friends at school said, โNoah, we saw you crying on the TVโ. I love Jarome and Adam Doueihi. Adam is my favourite kicker, and Jarome is my favourite โscorerโ. Hopefully they donโt [lose] again.โ
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
