NRL star becomes a hero with a handwritten letter to young fan

NRL star Josh Reynolds has already won a legion of new fans this year thanks to his exploits with NSW and Canterbury, and now he's got a fan for life in eight-year-old Sydney boy Tommy Norenbergs.

Norenbergs, the son of ABC sport's radio manager Craig Norenbergs, loves playing rugby league, but he sometimes worries that he's too small to play.

Having explained his son's predicament in an innocent chat with former Canterbury halfback Steve Mortimer, Norenbergs snr has revealed that young Tommy is now pen pals with Reynolds.

Mortimer told Reynolds of Tommy's concerns, so the 25-year-old took it upon himself to re-assure the youngster with this touching handwritten letter:

Norenbergs snr said his son, a passionate Raiders fan, might now start supporting the Bulldogs because of his new favourite player.

"How good is Josh? Posted by himself, handwritten. It was totally their idea," Norenbergs said.

"Tommy loved it. You should have seen his little face light up. It was like Christmas in June.

"This letter will be pinned up on the wall.

"I hate saying it as a Raiders tragic but they (Canterbury) may have stolen my son from the Green Machine."

Craig's wife, Evonne, added: "This is just lovely. I don't think the players realise what an impact they have when they do something so nice.

"Tommy says he feels like a giant now. But let’s remember it started with the nicest guy, Steve Mortimer."