Benji Marshall's touching offer to young Tigers fan after heartbreaking footage went viral

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has sent a message to the heartbroken young fan cameras captured in tears during his side's mauling by the Sharks on Sunday.

In the dying moments of the Tigers' 52-10 loss at Shark Park on Sunday, Noah Deguara was broadcast in tears while also being ribbed by his older sister Olivia, a Sharks fan.

The footage was broadcast on Nine and Fox Sports, as well as on the big screen at the ground.

READ MORE: The Mole makes whopping 10 changes to Blues team

READ MORE: Tszyu scores dominant win despite late controversy

READ MORE: FA urges Fed Square to overturn 'absurd' World Cup ban

The clip was quickly shared across social media, which prompted the Tigers coach to record the message and invite the five-year-old into the sheds to meet the team.

"First of all, I just want to send you a quick message to say it broke my heart seeing you cry at the game the other day," he said in the message which was played to Noah and Olivia in an appearance on Nine's Today on Thursday morning.

"I'm sorry that we couldn't perform better for you, but I loved your passion, I loved how much you cared about us playing well, and we'll do our best to make up for it this week.

"A little birdie did tell me that we're going to bring you to one of our home games soon, where you can meet myself and all the players, and I'm going to give you something special that no one's got.

"I look forward to meeting you, mate, and we'll see you there. Go the Tigers."

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Olivia said Noah – who didn't say much during the Today interview – was "still stunned from the loss".

In true big sister style, she said his tears were "sad at first", but the feeling soon wore off.

"When he started the tears again after the Sharkies scored towards the end ... you couldn't not laugh," the 20-year-old said.

"I did want (the Tigers) to win for him, but this was also hilarious. It was just great either way."

Noah said his favourite players were Jarome Luai and Adam Doueihi.

In a separate interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Noah's dad Cori – a Tigers tragic – blamed himself for Noah's heartbreak because he had been raised on re-runs of the Tigers' 2005 grand final triumph over the Cowboys, which had led Noah to believe the Tigers were invincible.

"He was under the impression the Tigers won every week - I didn't have the heart to show him some of their other games," he said.

"Now he's old enough to understand the Tigers don't always win. You saw that on Sunday. At least he's had a bit more to cheer this season."

Sharks star Nicho Hynes recorded his own video to Noah, and unsurprisingly tried to convince him to switch allegiances.

"Sorry to see you get upset on the big screen on the weekend. Hope you're doing well now," Hynes said.

"It's always a pleasure having people like you at the game who get emotional and ride the performances with the players.

"It's never too late to become a Sharkie, if you want to switch over to the good side. All the best. I'll maybe see you at Shark Park again next year. Up Up."

Noah might have to wait a while for the chance to meet his heroes – the Tigers travel to Melbourne to take on the Storm on Sunday, and then Brisbane for Magic Round where they play the Sea Eagles.

They then have the bye during Origin I, before finally hosting the Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium in round 13 on May 30.