A Newcastle fan has written a heartwarming letter detailing the incredible kindness of Knights centre Sione Mata'utia.
The supporter, known as Ian, emailed the Knights over the weekend to share the impact Mata'utia made on his sister, Naomi.
Naomi, a Newcastle tragic, was diagnosed with cancer a little more than two years ago.
MORE: Rabbitohs sign freakish teen rugby union talents Joseph Suaalii and Lachlan Ilias
Mata'utia, now 22, was her favourite current player – Ian recalls Naomii saying "I won't see Sione play Origin" after being told she had cancer.
In an attempt to raise her spirits, friends of Naomi reached out to the player in the hopes of having him sign some merchandise or send a message of support.
But upon learning about Naomi's situation, Mata'utia went above and beyond to help, as Ian explained to the Knights.
"His reaction was to organise a lift for my sister, Naomi, to meet him at Waratah Shopping Village where he sat with her for over an hour just talking footy and anything else that came up," Ian wrote to the club.
"She said if she died tomorrow, she'll be happy.
"A week or so later he sent a car out to pick Naomi, her son, daughter and grandkids up and take to a game where he'd organised a box for them.
"No fuss, no fanfare. My sister wasn't even a member at the time.
"... Naomi described the game day experience as the best day of her life.
"From that day on Sione regularly visited my sister at home or called to see how she was doing."
Incredible gesture from 'champion young bloke' ☺️
— Newcastle Knights (@NRLKnights) February 12, 2019
📝 https://t.co/DQdWiyByxi#GoHardGoKnights #NRL #20Knighteen pic.twitter.com/JQXYnyPfGV
Naomi continued to fight courageously but the cancer took over late last year.
She was admitted into the Calvery Mater Hospital in Newcastle for the last phase of her life, where Mata'utia visited on multiple occasions.
"Right up until the final days before she passed away before Christmas, he was checking how things were," Ian said.
For Ian and the remainder of Naomi's family, Mata'utia's efforts to help will always be remembered.
" ... Here we have a champion young bloke giving up plenty of his time for a virtual nobody and doing it because he's genuine (and) not looking to have his tyres pumped up," Ian said.
"The positive effect he had on my sister's last two years with us will be something I never forget and will appreciate until the day I see her again."
Read the full letter here
