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World Cup and Sharks premiership the dream
By Melissa Woods
Wednesday, November 19, 2003 Print this article
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Two things would complete Mat Rogers' football career.
Winning the Rugby World Cup, and winning a National Rugby League premiership with Cronulla.
While the first is in his sights on Saturday when the Wallabies do battle with England, Rogers hasn't entirely given up on the second.
He said today that he hadn't ruled out returning to his beloved Sharks, although one sticking point could be his father Steve, who is the general manager there.
Rogers senior told him he would be "beyond it" when his rugby union contract expired in a year's time, but told Wallabies winger, fellow league convert Lote Tuqiri, who's only 24, he'd be happy to talk to him.
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"It would be great to go back and win the comp - that would complete my career to be quite honest," said Rogers, who left Cronulla at the end of the 2001 season.
"I don't think I'd go back but I'd never say never.
"I live at Cronulla and I always have people coming up to me saying come back to Cronulla, and I'm like, 'This is pretty good what I'm doing'.
"It would take a lot to get me back to Cronulla."
Rogers and winger Wendell Sailor have already won a rugby league World Cup in 2000.
He buried that medal with his mother Carol, who passed away with cancer.
The 27-year-old said he had drawn on his experience from playing in the league tournament to prepare for Saturday's final.
"Building up for that final was the biggest week of my life.
"That was huge, it was the World Cup final and as far as a rugby league player is concerned, that's the biggest game you play.
"I think it's an experience that's helped me, to experience big moments in your career, you prove you can respond to pressure."
Rogers doesn't have fond memories of his last meeting with England, when he was bent in half in a tackle by Josh Lewsey.
He said he owed the utility back for ending his surfing career because of the rib damage.
"I've copped a few good ones, but that was up there - it was a great tackle.
"It's ended my surfing career. It was an old injury, but he flared it up. Now when all the boys go surfing, I have to go swimming."
While winning the World Cup was the goal when Rogers made the decision to switch, he said he felt his transition as a rugby player was already complete.
But beating England would be sweet.
"I don't need to go out and win a game to prove anything, said the fullback, who had his best performance of the tournament in Australia's semi-final win over New Zealand.
"It would be great to beat England and to win a World Cup, but at this stage, I'm pretty happy with the success I've had personally with the Wallabies."
By Melissa Woods
Wednesday, November 19, 2003 Print this article
Email to a friend
Two things would complete Mat Rogers' football career.
Winning the Rugby World Cup, and winning a National Rugby League premiership with Cronulla.
While the first is in his sights on Saturday when the Wallabies do battle with England, Rogers hasn't entirely given up on the second.
He said today that he hadn't ruled out returning to his beloved Sharks, although one sticking point could be his father Steve, who is the general manager there.
Rogers senior told him he would be "beyond it" when his rugby union contract expired in a year's time, but told Wallabies winger, fellow league convert Lote Tuqiri, who's only 24, he'd be happy to talk to him.
advertisement - story continues below
"It would be great to go back and win the comp - that would complete my career to be quite honest," said Rogers, who left Cronulla at the end of the 2001 season.
"I don't think I'd go back but I'd never say never.
"I live at Cronulla and I always have people coming up to me saying come back to Cronulla, and I'm like, 'This is pretty good what I'm doing'.
"It would take a lot to get me back to Cronulla."
Rogers and winger Wendell Sailor have already won a rugby league World Cup in 2000.
He buried that medal with his mother Carol, who passed away with cancer.
The 27-year-old said he had drawn on his experience from playing in the league tournament to prepare for Saturday's final.
"Building up for that final was the biggest week of my life.
"That was huge, it was the World Cup final and as far as a rugby league player is concerned, that's the biggest game you play.
"I think it's an experience that's helped me, to experience big moments in your career, you prove you can respond to pressure."
Rogers doesn't have fond memories of his last meeting with England, when he was bent in half in a tackle by Josh Lewsey.
He said he owed the utility back for ending his surfing career because of the rib damage.
"I've copped a few good ones, but that was up there - it was a great tackle.
"It's ended my surfing career. It was an old injury, but he flared it up. Now when all the boys go surfing, I have to go swimming."
While winning the World Cup was the goal when Rogers made the decision to switch, he said he felt his transition as a rugby player was already complete.
But beating England would be sweet.
"I don't need to go out and win a game to prove anything, said the fullback, who had his best performance of the tournament in Australia's semi-final win over New Zealand.
"It would be great to beat England and to win a World Cup, but at this stage, I'm pretty happy with the success I've had personally with the Wallabies."
