Souths leaders Walker and Mitchell helping Tass grow in confidence

Now in his second season with the Rabbitohs, Isaiah Tass has been growing in confidence each week in the NRL, finding his place in a side that includes some of the biggest names in the game.

Tass, who was excited to be part of the NRL’s Indigenous Round this week, said it took a little while from him to find his feet when he first moved from Souths Logan Magpies in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup to South Sydney, but had been learning alongside the likes of Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell.

“I'm loving my footy this year, it’s all sort of connecting for me,” Tass, who had previously been part of an NRL system with the Bulldogs and Broncos, said.

“I got a bit of NRL experience last year and All Stars just got me prepped for this year and I feel comfortable out there … (but) I'm just getting my confidence back and just getting it done. 

“It took a while for me to adjust to playing at NRL level, I never thought would come true, so it took me a couple of weeks when I first made it to get the nerves down and just get comfortable playing that at this grade.

“I feel like I'm there now, I'm comfortable in my body, I'm comfortable playing in this grade as well.”

For Our Elders

Both Walker and Mitchell featured with Tass in the NRL All Stars match earlier this year and the Mackay Norths Devils junior said the pair had not only helped him develop his football skills, but also his understanding of his own culture which will be on full display during this week’s Indigenous Round match.

“It's good to be at this club, especially with Latrell and Cody, they are strong Indigenous people in their community and everywhere they go, so I've learnt a lot about my culture just being around them and learnt a lot about myself and where I come from,” Tass – a proud Yuwibara man – said.

“They've pushed that, just because of how strong they are with their identity and pushed me to get to know myself more too. 

“The club (also) does the outstanding job with Indigenous Round, from the jersey to the events leading into the week of Indigenous Round.

“They do a lot involving everyone and bring a lot of cultural stuff and get all the boys involved even the non-Indigenous lads as well.”