RANGI’S LEAP OF FAITH

RUGBY LEAGUE Church helping to calm Chase

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RANGI CHASE has revealed how Castleford team-mate Jesse Sene-Lefao is helping him deal with his demons.

The Kiwi half back quit rugby league last year because of depression after a career blighted by controversy.

Tigers offered him a lifeline earlier this year but then dropped him after he broke club rules and he has only started one game since.

Now, though, Chase admits he feels more positive since Sene-Lefao got him involved in a fellowship group.

The former Cronulla Sharks man is a devout Christian and runs a church group in Castleford called Iron Squad.

Chase, 31, said: “I am the opposite of Jesse, I never grew up around church so never went to church.

Struggles

“But I got to a point in my life where I felt a bit lost. I went to church and liked the feeling. So when Jesse started this thing up I thought, ‘why not?’

“It is not just talking about Jesus, it is talking about struggles in life and everything you go through. I like that.

“I am pretty new to church but I always get a good feeling when I come away.”

Sene-Lefao said Chase’s experience is exactly why he set Iron Squad up.

He added: “Winning and losing games is a rollercoaster for Super League players but Iron Squad keeps us level and happy.”

Cas play St Helens in the pick of the Challenge Cup sixth-round ties on Saturday, while Salford take on Hull KR tomorrow.

Red Devils chief executive Ian Blease has urged fans of both clubs to behave and not repeat the ugly scenes from last year’s Million Pound Game.

He said: “Part of what makes this sport so special is the family environment and the respect between clubs, so let’s all keep this in mind regardless of the result.”