https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/brothers-in-arms-claim-emotional-victory/3865046/ WHEN Dean Tass walked onto the field, his mind was on his brothers – those who played alongside him and those not with him anymore. The River Bulls featured in the Mackay Indigenous Carnival for the first time at the weekend, to honour the Tass clan’s lost loved ones, Feeney and Jesse. A large family contingent proudly wore their jerseys for the pair, who tragically took their own lives in 1998 and 2015 respectively. Five of the Tass brothers appeared in the River Bulls’s line up, with the sixth running the water. Their eldest nephew, Feeney’s son Levi, also took to the field while Jesse’s three kids watched on. The passion in the group was evident as they were crowned the winners of the Open Men’s Shield, defeating Hunters 28-16 in the final. Dean knew how emotional the experience would be for him. But his thoughts were with his brothers still with him – and whether they were okay to get through the battle. “I know as young fellas right up until now we’ve always had each others backs and we stick together, through the good and the bad,” Dean said.
“Knowing I was running out there to play for my brothers meant the world to me, and I (did) it with my brothers out on the field. “When times are getting tough and when you’re down and out, you know you can look to your brother beside you. “They can just say one word and it will trigger something to get them off the line quick and will be a domino effect along the line.” Rugby league has always been a shared passion for the family of eight sons and two daughters, even before their days with the North Mackay juniors. Dean described brothers Jesse and Feeney as quite opposite in their characters. Feeney, a quiet person but a larrikin at times, and Jesse a jovial man who loved life and making everyone laugh. It highlights that mental illness does not discriminate, and that is a message the River Bulls shared. “You have to ask the question,” Dean said, “whether they’re the happiest person on Earth … the next day it could change in an instant.” But ultimately the greatest prize for the family was uniting, mourning and celebrating in a sport their dearly missed brothers, sons and fathers adored. “Rugby league, even in the saddest of times, can bring everyone together,” Dean said. “It has brought everyone together in times like this, we’ve all dug deep to get to where we are now. “(There was) a lot of emotion behind it already, but the ultimate prize for us was being together and putting that jersey on to represent our brothers.”
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AuthorSelection of sport content. I was regularly called upon to assist with sport in the abscence of other staff. Archives
November 2019
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