EVERY now and then comes along the perfect reminder of exactly why Australians love sport so dearly.

It is not unusual, however, that these reminders surface when we look back at the most raw version of any game — its junior ranks.

Junior Rugby League was thrown into a welcome spotlight on Sunday after a coach from the Cardiff Cougars Junior Rugby League Club instigated an incredibly moving gesture towards a member of the opposition.

Following a fixture between the Cougars, based just outside of Newcastle, and the Central Charlestown Under 6s, a mother of one of the Charlestown players posted a detailed account of the moment on Facebook.

Renee Ridgeway explained that her son’s side had taken the field with just “four and half players against their seven”, affectionately describing the team’s smallest player as their “half”, due only to his particularly small stature. Despite the fact that there are “three year olds who are bigger than him,” the youngster, known as Isac, is regularly among the most dedicated in the team, and gives his all week in, week out.

Sunday’s game was no different, and Isac was putting his best foot forward as he battled against a much larger opposition.

However this week, what the opposition did during the game provided what would be the most memorable moment of Isac’s young footballing career.

Isac ran the ball up towards the defensive line, busting through tackles, as Ridgeway described players “pretended” to tackle him as he ran through to score the first try for Charlestown. The moment was topped off by cheers of support from his teammates and members of the opposition.

The NSW Blues posted a copy of the touching story to their Twitter page.

Take the time to read this heartwarming story that's come out of our Junior League #Respect Round near Newcastle 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/9YEemVdbF1 — NSW Blues (@NSWRL) June 19, 2016

Read the full transcript of the moment below.

“I have a son who plays in Under 6s at Central Charlestown and I never ever write anything or make a comment on Facebook about an opposing team, but today I feel I must write this and truly hope that it filters through to the committee, coaching staff, parents and players of Cardiff Cougars,” Renee Ridgeway wrote.

“Today (Sunday) I watched my son’s team play against Cardiff in the pouring rain. We knew it was going to be a tough ask to beat Cardiff as we only had 4 and 1/2 players against their 7. Now when I refer to our “1/2” a player, I do so with no disrespect what so ever.

“I refer to him in that way because he is half the size of almost every player we have played against this year. I have seen 3 year olds who are bigger than him. However he shows up to training every week with a smile on his face and runs out on to the field every weekend just happy to play this great sport.

“His team mates do not make fun of his size, they simple encourage him every time his has the ball and do their best to protect him as best as they can when he runs the ball. Today was no exception. He smiled all game and just had a great time. But what the Cardiff Under 6s and coach did to this player was beyond words.

“Towards the end of today’s game our little player Isac was passed the ball by his team mates and instructed by his coach to run like he is week in and week out.

“Standing on the sideline I could hear his team mates yelling ‘Go Isac!!!’ I am not sure if the Cardiff players were prompted by their coach but there would have been at least 5 players who ‘pretended’ to tackle him and ran as slowly as they could beside him watching him score his first try.

“The moment was something I will remember forever and it bought tears to my eyes. His face lit up with such enjoyment and all his team mates ran over and hugged him just like he does every time they all score tries. The Cardiff players also cheered for him.

“Today was not about winning or loosing, today was about sportsmanship and Cardiff Cougars showed the highest level of this in today’s game. Sometimes get we caught up in all of the negative publicity that sport receives and we forget that these kids are just having fun. I want to personally congratulate the Cardiff Cougars Under 6s and coach for being TRUE sports today. I hope that more people out there learn the traits you all displayed today for a little kid with a big heart!”

Bravo, Cardiff Cougars Under 6s, you’ve done the game of Rugby League proud.