Official Mat Rogers

[Google News]

... Off-contract next year, the former Cronulla sharpshooter says he would consider any approach from an NRL club. ... "The Sharks have always said they would welcome ...

Source: http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/story/0,22049,20340477-5006067,00.html

According to SportsData, Rogers has missed a third of domestic and international matches since joining rugby back in 2002.

At the Waratahs, the classy utility has missed 21 of 61 games. For the Wallabies, he has played 41 of a possible 57 matches.

Overall, Rogers has been sidelined for 37 of 118 games, meaning he has been a spectator 31 percent of the time since his big-money shift to the 15-a-side code.

But Rogers' absences have not all been injury-enforced. Earlier this year, he missed the start of the Super 14 season following the tragic death of his father, Steve.

"My last big injury was major ankle surgery in 2004, which kept me out for seven months," Rogers said.

"I had a few shoulder reconstructions when I was younger but the ankle is the only major injury I've had in the past five or six years.

"It's not a bad record. Physically, I don't have a problem."

The more pressing issue is where Rogers will ultimately fit in Australia's backline puzzle.

Once the national squad's pre-eminent fullback, Rogers has made it clear that he no longer has designs on the No.15 jumper. He is adept at wing, centre or five-eighth, but has been relegated to an impact role off the Wallabies bench.

With five-eighth Stephen Larkham likely to retire after the World Cup, Rogers knows he could be a viable successor to the ACT wizard.

"It's one spot I enjoy playing but you can't take it for granted. There are some good young kids coming through like Kurtley Beale and Berrick Barnes," said the 41-Test veteran.

Rogers hasn't ruled out a return to league. Off-contract next year, the former Cronulla sharpshooter says he would consider any approach from an NRL club.

"I'd be stupid not to consider it. I'm a footballer, mate, not a rugby union player," he said. "The Sharks have always said they would welcome me back if I wanted a swansong. I also have family on the Gold Coast, so you never say never. "After the World Cup, I reckon I could play a couple more years. At the moment, I'm pretty happy in rugby."

 

[Google News]

Rogers contemplates return to 13-man code

... France. The dual international made headlines when he switched codes in 2002, leaving the Cronulla Sharks for the Waratahs. But ...

Source: http://www.planet-rugby.com/Teams/Australia/story_53507.shtml

Rogers ponders league return
3 September 2006, 1:23 pm

Mat Rogers admits he would seriously consider a return to rugby league after next year's World Cup in France.

The dual international made headlines when he switched codes in 2002, leaving National Rugby League team the Cronulla Sharks for the number 15 jersey at the New South Wales Waratahs.

But the 30-year-old revealed to he would contemplate moving back to the Sharks, or possibly a stint with the new Gold Coast franchise, the Titans.

"I'd be stupid not to consider it. I'm a footballer...not a rugby union player," he said.

"The Sharks have always said they would welcome me back if I wanted a swansong. I also have family on the Gold Coast, so you never say never.

"After the World Cup, I reckon I could play a couple more years. At the moment, I'm pretty happy in rugby (union)."

Rogers remained in Sydney with a knee injury as Australia jetted to South Africa for the final Tri Nations clash against the Springboks next weekend.

Rogers will spend up to five weeks on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on Thursday, but the versatile back has rejected claims he is an injury liability for Australia ahead of the team's upcoming tour of Europe and ultimately, the World Cup next year.

"I don't think I have got a major drama with injuries," he said.

"I've had a few niggling injuries in the last couple of years. I hurt my groin last year and missed four weeks, and I did my cartilage and missed another three weeks.

"With this injury I'll miss one game. I have actually been very happy with the last couple of years."

Australia coach John Connolly has opted to use Rogers as an impact player off the bench this season and the frustration of not being able to secure a starting position is starting to show.

"I enjoy having an impact off the bench but obviously every player likes to start," Rogers added.

"It does frustrate me at times, but it's a team game. You can't be selfish about it."

 

[KELPIE]

Very Sad Day

 

[Google News]

Rogers gain for Titans

... Gold Coast, the NRL's 16th franchise, has arranged a press conference at 9.30am today at Jupiter's Casino to announce the signing of the dual international. ...

Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20401615-10389,00.html

Rogers' shock NRL return
By Dean Ritchie
September 13, 2006

AUSTRALIA champion Mat Rogers will today sensationally announce plans to quit rugby union and return to rugby league with the Gold Coast Titans.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Rogers, 30, will join coach John Cartwright's side after his Australian Rugby Union contract expires at the end of next season.

Rogers will play the 2007 Rugby World Cup before moving back to rugby league and the region where he grew up.

Gold Coast, the NRL's 16th and newest franchise, has organised a press conference at 9.30am today at Conrad Jupiter's Casino to announce the signing of the dual international.

It is understood Rogers will sign a two-year deal, worth about $600,000.

Rogers, the son of late rugby league legend Steve Rogers, moved from rugby league to rugby union in 2002.

He was rated among the finest rugby league backs of the modern era before shocking the game and signing with rugby union.

His return is a huge boost for the NRL and a major coup for the fledging Titans.

He will join a backline that includes Scott Prince, Preston Campbell, Brian Carney and Steve Turner.

 

[Yahoo News]

Rogers returns to rugby league

According to reports from the AAP on Tuesday, Mat Rogers will return to rugby league in 2008, signing for the Gold Coast Titans.

Source: http://www.planet-rugby.com/News/story_53734.shtml

Rogers returns to rugby league
12 Sep 2006 15:16

Wallaby utility back crosses codes once more

According to reports from the AAP on Tuesday, Mat Rogers will return to rugby league in 2008, signing for the Gold Coast Titans.

The Wallaby star has reportedly signed a contract worth A$ 600,000 (US$ 450,000) for two years, but will not move until his contract with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has been completed.

Rogers has already won national rugby league titles with Cronulla Sharks, and won 11 caps for the Australian rugby league team before switching to union in a much-publicised deal in 2001.

His union debut came against France in 2002, and in the same year he scored a superb solo try, his first for Australia, against New Zealand in Melbourne.

The highlight of his union career was probably the Rugby World Cup final appearance in Sydney against England in 2003, a match which Australia eventually lost 20-17.

Since then, injuries and the death of his father have put a hold on his career, and he has missed many of Australia's international matches

In 2005, Rogers was tried in the fly-half position at Test level, and was such a success that he played much of the 2006 Super 14 for the Waratahs in the position.

 

[Google News]

Mat Rogers NRL comeback

... His return is a huge boost to the NRL and a major coup for the fledging Titans. ... Mat Rogers in action for Cronulla druing his rugby league career. ...

Source: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20400999-5001023,00.html

Rogers is a Titan
By Daniel Pace
September 13, 2006 12:00AM

DUAL international Mat Rogers's pay packet will be more than halved when he returns to rugby league with Gold Coast Titans after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Rogers, 31, today confirmed he had accepted a two-year deal with the new NRL franchise for 2008 and 2009.

It's understood Rogers will receive $300,000 a year from the Titans - a big drop from the $650,000 the Wallabies utility gets from the Australian Rugby Union.

Rogers said he wanted a fresh challenge and, while he had yet to achieve all his goals since switching to rugby in 2002, he hoped to do so with a Wallabies win at the Rugby World Cup in France next year.

Rogers hinted the sudden death of his father, former Test rugby league centre Steve Rogers, at the start of the year had been been a factor in his decision.

"It's great opportunity to start afresh," Rogers told a brief press conference on the Gold Coast.

"It's been a tough 18 months for me and this is a great way to kick off a new part of my life."

He was looking forward to returning to live on the Gold Coast with his young family, having spent much of his teenage life there.

"I spent my formative years on the Gold Coast and it was the best days of my life," Rogers said.

However, he remained committed to the cause of achieving triumph for the Wallabies at the World Cup in a year's time, having played on the team which lost the 2003 World Cup final to England in Sydney.

"I'm certainly looking forward to the next 12 months in rugby," said Rogers.

"It'd be good to finish with a bang and I can move on knowing that I have achieved everything. By no means do I feel I have achieved everything in rugby (yet), there's still a lot to go."

Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle said he wasn't concerned about Rogers being on the wrong side of 30.

"He's an athlete," Searle said.

"He's an absolute freak of a player and it's fantastic to get him back in our game."Rogers is a Titan

 

[Capmar]

Intolerable

No No No!!! What the hell is Sharks management doing? Matt ROGERS is an institution that belongs to the Sharks. He is our saviour that would had led us down the road of a Premiership and vindicate his fathers name that was tarnished by such a pathetic year!!

This is a tragedy!!

Surely if a fair financial offer and capataincy were put forward we would have been considered?

A very black day in our history and Steve would be turning in his grave!

 

[fancyman]

just cant belive it.

sorry steve rodgers

 

[Megashark]

I heard a radio interview with Steve only a few months before his death, and he was asked the question if as CEO he would want his son back at the Sharks, and he basically said no thanks, by the time this rugby contract was up he would be too old and past it. And I agree completely, he is injury prone and besides, he turned his back on the club to play rugby yawnion at a time when we needed him, so why would we want him back now?

 

[wobo]

While I agree with you Mega shark, Why the hell would matt want to come back to this club?? As I once metioned to Steve "we have never been to a grand final without a Rogers in our side" he stopped paused and then smiled. never had never will. STAND DOWN NOW STUART. STAND DOWN NOW GREG PIERCE

 

[Woody]

I agree, I was devasted when I found out he would be signing with another NRL club, but considering how injury prone he is and signing him a year in advance on a contract worth $600,000 for two seasons, its probably lucky we aren't signing him.

 

[Hammerhead]

gotta say im stunned by that. just proves how loyalty is out the window and money talks. still, a fresh start in league out of his father's shadow is probably a smart move. cant blame him on that front.

 

[SAsharksNUT]

I guess the best thing to come out of it is that he will be back in a real game. rugby league.

 

[Megashark]

just proves how loyalty is out the window and money talks.

Which is exactly why he left the Sharks for rugby union in the first place

 

[Hammerhead]

he turned his back on the club to play rugby yawnion at a time when we needed him, so why would we want him back now?

Absolutely agree. When you put the sentimental stuff aside, he will be almost 32 in 2008. got to be a huge risk given his constant injuries. truth is, if the sharks wouldnt offer peach a lifeline, why would they offer rogers one. interested to hear whether he even spoke to sharks tho.

 

[Megashark]

I guess the best thing to come out of it is that he will be back in a real game. rugby league.

Spot on, Sharks Nut. Could not have said it better myself.

 

[Hammerhead]

Damn. Peach in myrtle and green, matty in the titans colours (with preston), Best at the raiders. It's just not right.

 

[db72]

absolutely f u c k ing embarrassing! He is one of our sons... and a son of our favourite son! An absolute joke! This club is about to lose me...

 

[Yahoo News]

Rogers switch won't affect Cup: Connolly

Mat Rogers' planned return to rugby league won't affect his Rugby World Cup prospects with the Wallabies next year, national coach John Connolly says.

Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/060912/2/10ikp.html

Mat's Cup chances safe: Connolly
September 13, 2006
AAP

MAT Rogers's planned return to rugby league won't affect his Rugby World Cup prospects with the Australia next year, Wallabies coach John Connolly said today.

The former Sharks centre will announce a move back to league today with NRL expansion team Gold Coast Titans after the rugby World Cup.

Rogers is expected to join the Titans in a two-year deal worth around $600,000.

Although Rogers will no longer feature in the Wallabies' long-term plans, Connolly pledged his support for the 31-year-old in whatever decision he made.

"We've spoken to Mat over the last couple of days and the decision that he makes we'll support," Connolly told Sydney's Radio 2KY.

"We've had a good chat . . . we discussed his future, what was best for him at times."

Although Rogers will switch codes right after the World Cup, Connolly said it wouldn't affect his participation in that tournament in France.

"No, of course not. The team will be picked on merit. He's a wonderful player and probably fair to think, if fit, he'll be at the World Cup," Connolly said.

The Australia coach added the Australian Rugby Union was also standing behind Rogers who played in the 2003 World Cup after switching codes in 2002.

"Absolutely," he said.

"Mat's done a great service for rugby. He's been a great team man.

"He'll be 32 at the end of the World Cup next year and whatever decision he makes, we'll support him."

Connolly said that the departing star might even be called upon to fill a starting role at the Cup after coming off the bench as an impact player this year.

"At the moment he's been in the 22 whenever fit and an important player off the bench this year but you could probably see him providing more next year," he said.

"He's played very well at 12, he's played 10 for the Waratahs and for Australia, he's also played full back for Australia and wing, he's a very valuable utility player and there's no doubt we'd like to work him into the team somewhere.

"It's a matter of where."

 

[Vichyssoise]

I tend to agree with all of you saying that we're better off without Rogers.
He used to be my favourite player but really, I don't think the club needs him now.
Do we need an aging player, no matter what his name is ?

If we consider the club's history, yes, maybe he should play for us. But, frankly, history's won't give us a premiership.