But then again, Sienna Newton of Wallalong is not like most primary schoolers.

Sienna is living at Ronald McDonald House in Westmead, where she is balancing radiotherapy for her cancerous brain tumour with discussing leopards with the Parramatta Eels’ Anthony “Choc” Watmough, who has taken her under his wing.

‘’They’ve truly formed a special ­little bond,’’  Kylie Newton, Sienna’s mum, said. “Instead of being down in the dumps, Anthony has helped to take Sienna’s mind off treatment.

“It’s something for her to look ­forward to – they just talk about ­random everyday things, like places they have been, or leopards.’’

Mrs Newton said her daughter had been her normal, bubbly self and won her age group in the Catholic schools diocesan primary schools cross 

country event just a week before an MRI discovered her brain tumour on May 15.

She had experienced two migraines a few weeks earlier as well as some hand spasms, but Mrs Newton and her husband Matt saw the MRI simply as a precaution.

“It was a complete shock,’’ Mrs Newton said, about the tumour.

“I stayed at work while she was ­having the MRI because I didn’t think it was anything and when my husband called to tell me, my boss and a ­colleague had to pick me up from the floor.

“I just thought ‘This happens to other people, it does not happen to us’.

‘’She had never appeared sick and that was the hardest thing, to look at her and accept she was sick.’’

The family drove to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead on May 16 – when Sienna had tickets to a Parramatta Eels home game – and she underwent 3.5 hours of surgery on May 19 to have the plum-sized growth removed from her right frontal lobe.

The Newtons were told the tumour was benign and were discharged from hospital on May 23, only to be told to visit the oncologist for a procedural follow up on May 25.

“I knew we were in trouble when I saw the social worker sitting on the couch,’’ Mrs Newton said.

“When they told us it was cancerous, I was baffled.

“I broke down and started crying – it was like being blindsided, like the whole world is collapsing around you.’’

Sienna moved into Ronald McDonald House at The Children’s Hospital on June 15 and commenced radiotherapy, which she will have every weekday to August 5.

After hearing about Sienna’s journey, Watmough visited her in hospital the day after her brain surgery and later organised for her to attend the June 8 game against the North Queensland Cowboys, where she sat in the dugouts.

The father of two gave her the jersey he wore in the Anzac Day clash against the Brisbane Broncos and arranged for her to attend the June 27 game against the St George Dragons, where he ­piggybacked her around the field and organised for her to meet his ­teammates.

Watmough also accompanied Sienna to her radiotherapy appointment on July 1 and has also invited the family to a restaurant meal.

“I have not seen Sienna’s personality shine through really until yesterday [July 1],’’ Mrs Newton said.

“It’s been such a positive thing for her – she says she has an adult best mate.’’

Watmough has been equally ­effusive about the Newtons on his social media accounts.

“If all u guys out there knew how big of a fighter this kid is u would be blown away like I am,’’ Watmough posted on Facebook in late June.

“Always smiling chatting away after your 2mins of being shy... 

“U are a true inspiration to me thank u for letting me be your mate not just u but your mum dad and sister... 

“See u guys this week when I come kidnap u from hospital rest up little mate...’’