THE Parramatta Eels are mourning the loss of their bravest fan, Oscar Buhagiar, 5, whose battle with cancer ended last Monday night.
As a tribute to the Kellyville Bushrangers junior rugby league player, the Eels wore a special jersey with his name embroidered on the front in their game against the Wests Tigers on Friday night.
The jerseys were auctioned after the match to raise funds for the Buhagiar family.
The Eels have also donated $5000 to the family, which the NRL has agreed to match.
Oscar fought a two-year battle with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
But it could not stop him from donning his Kellyville Bushrangers rugby league jersey and playing for his local club.
Oscar was also a huge Eels fan and regularly attended matches.
The players also wore black armbands for Oscar, who received a thrill at the 2009 grand final when he took delivery of the Premiership Trophy on the field from Darren Lockyer and Hazem El Masri.
Eels forward Nathan Hindmarsh forged a close friendship with Oscar and his family throughout his illness. He said he was deeply saddened by Oscar's death last week.
``He was an amazing little kid. He was always smiling,'' Hindmarsh said.
``He fought so hard throughout his illness and his parents were so proud of him.''