By Jonathan B Geddes

WARRINGAH centre Tyson Davis fulfilled his dad’s dying wish with a man of the match performance for the Rats in their 29-12 Shute Shield win over Northern Suburbs at Narrabeen on Saturday.

Rick Davis, who passed away last Sunday and was Tyson’s greatest supporter, would have been so proud of his son’s standout two-try effort at the end of an emotional week for the Rats’ stalwart and his close-knit family.

To even take the field, let alone play the way he did, was a display of courage and strength in a fitting tribute to his father.

“Dad said to me last week before he passed, ’you need to go out and play’,” Davis told Rugby News after the victory. “They were his wishes, he didn’t want people to mourn. He lived a very good life.

“He was 75-years-old and he said he had no regrets, so I can’t sit around moping when he wasn’t in his last few days. So, I just got on with business.”

A GAME TO REMEMBER

BEFORE kick-off, both teams observed a moment’s silence for Rick Davis.

Once the game started, the crowd roared their approval when Davis scored his two first half tries.

“I don’t think I have scored a double since I was 20-years old,” he said. “When I imagined this game, it was never like that.”

It was also Davis’s 181th first grade game for the Rats and one he will never forget.

“It was right up there with winning the two grand finals,” he said.

As he stood on Rat Park at fulltime, Davis admitted to feeling a bit overwhelmed.

“It was a big game, and a lot of emotional energy went into this week,” he said. “I am kind of relieved it is over and I put a good performance on the board.

“It was my first start this season, and I am really proud the boys got that game over the line, and we are building with a new group. Back to back is our goal.”

WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM MY FRIENDS  

THE two-time Shute Shield winner received tremendous support from the Warringah club, his teammates, as well as a special group sitting in the grandstand and up above.

“It was a dream come true to have all my family here and dad looking down on me,” Davis said. “It’s not often I get all three of my brothers, all my nieces and nephews, and (wife) Cas’s side of the family here.

“I figure I was playing in front of 30 family members, so that was really special.

“It’s been a big week, but I’ve been at this club since I was 18-years-old, and it is second home to me.

“There are a lot of good people at this club who gave me a lot of support. There were about 50 texts from people – and that just helps you get on with the job.”

The players got around Davis, taking time to share special and personal words with him.

“It helped me step away from all the emotions and feelings, it was an escape for me this week,” he said.

PRIDE AND JOY

RATS’ skipper Ben Marr gave a heartfelt address to the players in the dressing room after the game about Davis’s effort.     

“The fact was that it was so raw, it happened so recently, and he was still at every training session, getting around the boys, with the same energy,” Marr said.  “He was called into the starting side and was the best player on the park – it was awesome.

“I am so proud of him and so happy for him. And I know Rick is looking down now, very proud of Tyson.”

Rats coach Josh Holmes described Davis’s game as outstanding.

“He told me earlier in the week that his dad said he wanted him to play,” Holmes said. “And I think he went out there and did his dad really proud.

“It says a lot about him as a person and how much this club and this team mean to him.

“I couldn’t imagine the emotions he has been through this week, it’s been really hard. How he presented himself and went about things was really good.”

Holmes said Davis’s teammates respected what he did and the commitment he showed to the group.

“And the boys wanted to repay him as well,” he said.