Official Mat Rogers

Titans star Rogers to retire

Gold Coast Titans veteran Mat Rogers is to retire at the end of the season and will move into a marketing role with the NRL club.

Source:http://foxsports.com.au/story/0,20797,27561567-5018866,00.html?from=public_rss

Gold Coast Titans veteran Mat Rogers to retire at the end of the season
By Jim Morton and Ben Horne
August 16, 2010

Gold Coast Titans veteran Mat Rogers is to retire at the end of the season, and he will move into a marketing role with the Queensland-based club.

The 34-year-old will finish up with the Titans at the end of 2010, after four seasons with the fledgling club, who were struggling to come up with enough money to keep him.

Rogers has played 194 first-grade matches and has a chance to notch 200 if the Titans progress deep into the finals.

"I feel like I can compete still but I think the time's right to go out,'' Rogers said.

"I think if I'm questioning whether I can go on or not next year the time's right.''

The son of league legend Steve Rogers, the versatile back followed in his father's footsteps and made his debut for Cronulla in 1995, where he played 123 top-grade matches.

He was part of one of the club's strongest but most heartbreaking eras - starring alongside the likes of Andrew Ettingshausen and David Peachey as the Sharks lost the Super League grand final to Brisbane in 1997, and preliminary finals in 1996, 1999 and 2001.

Rogers, also a first-class goal-kicker, trails only his father for the club's all-time point-scoring record.

The brilliant winger played five Origin matches for Queensland, and was part of the famous Maroons side of 1999.

He also played 11 Tests for Australia, and was a major part of the Kangaroos' World Cup-winning team in 2000.

Rogers then took a huge risk to walk out on the NRL at the height of his representative career to join the Australian Rugby Union with an ambition of running out for the Wallabies.

He achieved his dream alongside fellow league convert Wendell Sailor in a Test against France in June, 2002.

In that match, Rogers and Sailor became the 41st and 42nd dual Australia internationals.

Rogers played 45 Tests for the Wallabies and fullback in the team which lost the 2003 World Cup final in extra time in Sydney in 2003.

Playing fly-half, fullback, wing and centre during his Wallabies career, Rogers scored 163 points.

He played 45 matches for the NSW Waratahs in the Super rugby competition, where he amassed 202 career points.

Rogers then decided to return to rugby league for the Titans debut NRL season in 2007 - where he permanently became a five-eighth/centre and has played 71 matches for the Gold Coast.

Rogers revealed he had considered a return to rugby union after speaking with his former Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie, who is now leading the Queensland Reds but said it was the right stage of his life to look beyond football.

"I think what I've done is enough,'' he said.

"I'm just looking forward to the next chapter of my life and the last month has just made it easier.''

Eyeing a fairytale premiership-winning ending to his career, Rogers denied that money was a factor at all after the Titans tabled a one-year offer last week.

"It's not a money thing it's purely the time's right for me (but) I think the best is yet to come,'' he said.

"I don't think the career highlight has come yet.''

Oh well, he was retired in my mind the day he left the Sharks anyway.

Well since we are out of it this year and mat is retiring I hope that the titans can win it to send him out how he deserves.. one of my favourites as a young fella when i used to watch him in sharks colours

Nathan Friend one of the best: Rogers - Yahoo!Xtra Blogs (blog)

Source:http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=...s/article/-/7770774/nathan-friend-best-rogers

Nathan Friend one of the best: Rogers
AAP
August 16, 2010, 6:46 pm

Mat Rogers has played with a galaxy of stars in his 16 years at the top level of rugby league and union but identified blue-collar Titan Nathan Friend as the man he admired most.

Such is Friend's reputation as a major club pest, the retiring dual international found it hard to deliver the huge wrap for the hard-working Gold Coast hooker.

"It's hard for me to say this but the most professional is Nathan Friend," Rogers said. "His desire is just unbelievable in everything he does - on the field and off the field.

"He can be a little painful at times."

Rogers, who played well above his own weight of 87kg, reserved similar plaudits for his former Wallabies skipper George Gregan and similarly diminutive Titans livewire Preston Campbell.

"All the little fellas," the former Kangaroos, Maroons, Sharks, Wallabies and Waratahs back said on Monday.

"Phil Waugh was probably the toughest bloke I played with, he was unbelievable, and then there's Luke Bailey, that guy is just something else, he just goes and goes."

While Rogers made his name as an elusive and creative attacker in 194 NRL games, Titans coach John Cartwright said the 34-year-old's toughness was unfairly under-rated.

"At one stage of the year he had to mark up on (powerful centres) Jamal Idris, Tony Williams and Israel Folau back-to-back-to-back," he said.

"Not one of those opponents got the better of him."

Rogers' teammates tried to convince the utility back to play on for one more year.
But he felt it would be unfair to drag his decision out and put extra pressure on the club during a play-off campaign.

I hope he gets included in the farewells during the Titans game. He made a great contribution to our club and that should be acknowledged.

One of my favourite players back in the day when he wore the Sharks jersey. Sad to see him retire in a way, but didn't care much for him after he left.

Mark^Bastard said:

Is it too late? Come on Flano give him a call and offer him whatever you're offering Best plus a bit more!

Click to expand...

He won't move from the Goldy and contrary to what some on here think we never offered him a dime ( but I agree maybe we should have) but he won't move back here , he has it too good up there surfing every day with parko and deano

kinda hurted when he left us.
but he had a good career
most defying with us.

Wow read a lot about him today. What a player.

Cronulla Sharks board & coaching staff should be ashamed for not signing Matt Rogers up for 1 or 2 more seasons, we need his experience & passion back in our club.
we have been signing players such as; Brett Kimmorley, Trent Barrett, Corey Hughes, Ben Ross, Nigel Vagana, Darren Albert etc.. why on earth did we give these guys a go & not Matt Rogers another chance to come home & win the 1st premiership with the shire!.. especially when he wanted to!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/?ref=home 'Believe!'

He wanted to come back to the shire to finish his career! we didn't want him!
C'mon Sharkies board you tell us to 'believe' Our club would be the only club that could talk him out of retirement! let's get him back for 2011 he's still good enough!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/?ref=home

we need both Colin Best & Mat Rogers back home for 2011 get the crowds back! Rogers would look great in the no.6 in the shire! I still 'Believe' so come on Sharkies Board Believe with us! Rogers & Best would do wonders for our club! link up the old with the new, at the moment we have no links between the good old days & now! they are both class acts & would be a great mix with the Sharkies younger players!

Former Wallaby Rogers retires - Scrum.com

Source:http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=...w.scrum.com/australia/rugby/story/121384.html

Former Wallaby Rogers retires
Scrum.com
August 16, 2010

Former Wallaby Mat Rogers has announced his retirement from professional rugby. The dual-code international has spent the last four seasons playing in the NRL with Gold Coast Titans, having won 45 caps for Australia in union after crossing codes in 2002.

Rogers began his career in the 13-man-code with Cronulla, winning the rugby league World Cup in 2000. He also played five games for Queensland at State of Origin level before defecting to union.

At Super Rugby level he represented the Waratahs and won his debut Test cap against France in June 2002. He then secured a remarkable double by playing in the Rugby World Cup final in 2003 - this time losing out to England.

"I feel like I can compete still but I think the time's right to go out," he said. "I think if I'm questioning whether I can go on or not next year the time's right."

Rogers will take up a backstage role at the Titans following his retirement but current Reds coach Ewen McKenzie is hanging on to the hope that the utility back will cross codes for a second time and complete his Super 15 roster in 2011.

"He called me this morning to tell me he was retiring and I told him just to announce his retirement from rugby league," McKenzie told AAP. "You never know, in six months time, in February or January, he might be looking to do something. My job is to find the best solution to the Reds and I was scouring the world to find the right person to build our depth."

pattay6 said:

He wanted to come back to the shire to finish his career! we didn't want him!

Click to expand...

There is a modicum of truth in part of this statement - but I agree pattay it would have been good to have him come back

Rogers eyes fairytale finish

Mat Rogers has confidently backed Gold Coast to deliver a fairytale end to his glittering career with a first NRL title.

Source:http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/16/2984521.htm

Rogers eyes fairytale finish
Updated August 16, 2010 17:28:00
AAP

Mat Rogers has confidently backed Gold Coast to deliver a fairytale end to his glittering career with a first NRL title.

The dual international on Monday announced his retirement from football after 16 seasons at the top of both rugby league and union at a time when he has enjoyed strong form for the resurgent Titans.

If the second-placed Titans continue current form the 34-year-old Rogers would be on track to bow out by notching his 200-match NRL milestone in the grand final on October 3.

It would give him the chance to finally secure the title glory that has eluded him in rugby league with Cronulla and the Titans, and in rugby union with New South Wales, not to mention the 2003 Rugby World Cup final.

"I think the best is yet to come," Rogers said.

"I've had some great moments over my career, league before I went to union and union, but I think the career highlight hasn't happened yet.

"I think we can do it and it would be a great way to finish."

After deciding his battle-scarred, heavily-inked body was not up to the rigours of one more year, Rogers stressed his career had already given him more than he could have hoped.

"I've been blessed - I feel like I've had three careers," the 45-Test former Wallabies back said.

"Although I haven't won a premiership yet I feel I've been fulfilled in every one of them and had a really good time.

"I got to the (1997 Super League) grand final with the Sharks, I got into the (2005 Super 12) final with the Waratahs and played in a World Cup final in rugby union and won a Rugby League World Cup.

"Now to come to the Titans here has been amazing.

"It doesn't get any better, I couldn't have scripted it."

The son of the late Cronulla great Steve Rogers, the classy utility back looked back at the Sharks' 1999 minor premiership side as among the most special he had played with.

"The '99 season I will never forget it, we should have won the comp that year and we didn't and it still haunts me," he said.

"There's potential for this year to haunt me too because I think we've got the team to do it as well, so let's hope it doesn't."

Fitting farewell

The man he has replaced at five-eighth in the Titans' four-match winning streak, Greg Bird, certainly believes Rogers will receive a fitting farewell.

"It's a shame he's probably played at the only two clubs never to have won a grand final but, hopefully, I think this is one of the best chances he'll have," Bird said.

Bird admits he is resigned to working his way back from a hamstring strain through the interchange bench and forward pack due to Rogers' efforts at number six.

"The last four games have silenced the critics and shown that if his body was up to it he could go around again," Bird said.

"It's not to be and it's disappointing for the side."

Despite his current form and his team-mates pleadings, Rogers feels he still lacks an inch of zip and revealed the last month had made his decision easier.

"If ever I knew the decision was right it was on Friday morning," he said.

"We had a perfect GC day (but) as soon as I started running I thought 'oh my knees hurt, my back hurt, my shoulders hurt'.

"For a game adrenaline gets you through that but you can't play at the level the NRL requires if you can't train to the level the game requires."

Rogers calls end to career - The Age

[SIZE=-1][/SIZE]Source:http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=...ogers-calls-end-to-career-20100816-1271b.html

Rogers calls end to career
Jim Morton
August 17, 2010

Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said yesterday he searched the world to fill the one spot left on his Super 15 roster for 2011 and Rogers was his top choice.

Rogers rang McKenzie, his former NSW Waratahs mentor, just before he announced he would retire at the end of the NRL season after 16 years at the top level of both codes.

The Reds coach tried to convince the 34-year-old to leave the rugby option open but to no avail.

''He called me this morning to tell me he was retiring and I told him just to announce his retirement from rugby league,'' McKenzie said.

''You never know, in six months time … he might be looking to do something.

''My job is to find the best solution for the Reds and I was scouring the world to find the right person to build our depth.''

Former Broncos hard-man Thorn is in career-best form for the All Blacks after switching from league to union for the second time.

While McKenzie admitted Rogers' second conversion to the 15-man code, following his late 2006 defection to the Titans, would have been politically unpalatable for some in rugby, the former 45-Test Wallabies back wouldn't have let anyone down.

''There's different sentiments about him but I always thought what you had was a guy who had played a lot of Test rugby, played every position in the back line bar half-back, has X-factor, a left-footed goalkicker - he was worth talking to,'' he said.

''I said to him I was looking for depth. I wasn't necessarily looking for a starting player but he said 'I'm not one of those blokes to sit on the bench' and I said 'I know that'.''

McKenzie argued Rogers would have been the perfect fly-half replacement if star playmaker Quade Cooper broke his leg.

Rogers said he spoke at length with McKenzie but, in the end, his body helped him make the decision to retire.

''[McKenzie's] a good friend and we entertained the [prospect] I guess but at this stage of my career and where I am physically I just think it was never really something I would embark on,'' he said.

Signed by late father Steve's club Cronulla at 17 after starring in rugby as a schoolboy, Rogers said he felt more content in league.

''I probably never felt as welcome in rugby as I have in league,'' he said. ''But that probably goes back to my father and we're a league family, bottom line.

''Although I played rugby at school, I was still seen as a leaguey and that's fair enough. I'm not here to bag rugby union and say league is better, I thoroughly enjoyed both codes.''

After 16 years Mat Rogers knew it was time to hang up his boots

Source:http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=...ang-up-his-boots/story-e6frg7mf-1225906074553

After 16 years Mat Rogers knew it was time to hang up his boots
Margie McDonald
August 17, 2010 12:00AM

GOLD COAST boss Michael Searle never got around to talking dollars with Mat Rogers to play on.

That is because no amount of money interested the dual international.

"We didn't really get that far," Searle said on what offer he had made to Rogers, presently on about $300,000 a year.

"It was more of an invitation: 'Do you want to have another year?'

"But Mat had already pretty well made his mind up. Money was never the issue. He said up front: 'You can give me whatever you want but I've had enough'."

Rogers will close the door at the end of the year on a remarkable career in two football codes -- two NRL clubs, a grand final, State of Origin and the Kangaroos in rugby league; a Super 14 final, a World Cup final and 45 Tests for the Wallabies in rugby union.

But at age 34 and despite the calls of Titans fans for a fifth season ringing loudly in his ears, he will hang up his boots.

But he doesn't want out of the game altogether.

At yesterday's retirement press conference, Titans coach John Cartwright said he would ask Rogers to work with youngsters in the Gold Coast senior squad like Kevin Gordon, David Mead and rising players like Bodene Thompson and Ryan James.

"Mat will be involved. He doesn't know yet but he will be involved in some capacity with those guys," Cartwright said. "Just to give your team a core group of guys that others can learn from."

That's in addition to the job in sales and sponsorship Searle had earmarked for Rogers.

"Mat loves a kill so I think he'll be out there selling and he's very passionate about rugby league and this club," chief executive Searle said. "The job description just got expanded so I dare say the salary negotiation will expand -- thanks Carty."

The son of former great Australia Test centre Steve Rogers, Mat started playing footy for the Nerang Roosters near Southport and finished with the Titans in Robina -- both on the Gold Coast.

"To finish here where I grew up, it doesn't get any better. I couldn't have scripted it better," he said.

"I've been blessed. I feel like I've had three careers, I really do.

"Although I haven't won a premiership -- yet -- I feel like I've been fulfilled in every one of those (careers) and had a really good time.

"I got to a grand final with the Sharks (1997); got to a grand final with the Waratahs (2005); played in a World Cup final with rugby union (2003); won a rugby league World Cup (2000). It's been a fun ride.

"Then to come here and be part of an organisation like the Titans from day one, it's been amazing."

Cartwright said he admired players like Rogers who at 34 were still at their peak.

"One stage he had to mark up on Jamal Idris, Tony Williams and Israel Folau back-to-back-to-back," Cartwright said.

"That's one thing that doesn't get spoken about Mat, and that's just how tough he is.

"None of those opponents got the better of him although they were all 20, 30 kilos heavier than him (and 10 years younger)."

Rogers rates Titans hooker Nathan Friend as the most professional he has seen in 16 years.

"The guy is just unbelievable, he really is, in everything he does. Friendy, another little guy George Gregan, Preston Campbell, all the little fellas, just so much ticker and spirit," said Rogers, who had no trouble in recalling the toughest.

"Phil Waugh . . . probably the toughest bloke I played with . . . just relentless and unbelievable," Rogers said of the NSW and Australia flanker.

"(And) Luke Bailey (Titans prop) -- that guy is just something else. He just goes and goes."

Despite the highs and lows, Rogers says there will be no tears when he plays his last game for the Titans, which he hopes is the grand final.

i would of liked mat back, but if he played in the halves or centres, we would be in the sameposition next year having to recruit someone, i think management did a good job avoiding him, despite his form

did we even approach matty rogers?

if we didnt we are a joke

Pomeroy#3 said:

did we even approach matty rogers?

Click to expand...

From what I understand he approached us and we didn't even make an offer.

Deplorable if that's the case.