Rogers future.

[shadowboxer]

Taken from sportal.com.au

Rogers hints at future

Wallabies fullback Mat Rogers has hinted that he will finish his career playing rugby rather than returning to rugby league.

Rogers, who is yet to sign a new contract with the Australian Rugby Union, has been considering returning to the NRL and the Cronulla Sharks, his old club.

However, speaking from Melbourne where he is promoting the upcoming Wallabies' clash with Scotland, Rogers said he was hoping to stay with union for the next three years.

The injured Waratah also said he has to consider that any new contract he signs will most likely see out his football career.

"I'm 28 now, so it will probably be my last contract," he told AAP.

"If I stay in rugby that'll be my goal, to play in the next rugby World Cup."

"It's not something that I just want to play for another year or two and then do a runner."

"If I commit to it I want to commit to it for the entire three years and hopefully be an integral part of that World Cup campaign in 2007 (in France)."

Rogers said there were many things he had to weigh up before making any decision, the pressures of travel rugby placed on his young family and his family ties to the Sharks among them.

"It's no secret my dad's (Steve Rogers) the chief executive of the Cronulla Sharks," he said.

"I'm surrounded by league, I still live at Cronulla and I've got plenty of mates who play at the Sharks."

"The speculation is there and it's going to be there until a decision is made but I've really enjoyed rugby over the last three years and I'm hoping to stay in the game for the next three years."

"So we've got a few creases to iron out and once we do that hopefully I'll be able to sign some contracts and get underway."

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Im surprised, but they are obviously making offers he cannot refuse.

 

[Macca]

That's totally different to everything we've heard over the last 4 or 5 weeks isn't it. Anyone think he is just trying to bump his contract?

 

[newman]

That report was originally from rugbyheaven.com, so there is every possibility that it could be a union fabrication.

It cant be true either, cause I have my heart set on getting him back for the sharkies.

 

[Macca]

He said the same thing on 2GB apparently.

 

[imasharkie]

I think everyone wants him back at the sharks and don't we need him.

 

[RICHO]

www.foxsports.com.au had this to say:

INJURED Wallabies fullback Mat Rogers has given his strongest indication yet that he will play out his football career in rugby rather than return to rugby league.

Off-contract with the Australian Rugby Union, Rogers is considering a return to the National Rugby League, most likely with his old club Cronulla, but today said he was "hoping to stay in the game (rugby) for the next three years".

Weighing on his decision is the fact that Rogers' next contract is likely to be the last of his career, and that the code he chooses will be the one he finishes in.

"I'm 28 now, so it will probably be my last contract," he said during a visit to Melbourne to promote next month's Test against Scotland at Telstra Dome.

"If I stay in rugby that'll be my goal, to play in the next rugby World Cup.

"It's not something that I just want to play for another year or two and then do a runner.

"If I commit to it I want to commit to it for the entire three years and hopefully be an integral part of that World Cup campaign in 2007 (in France)."

Rogers has a "whole raft of things" to consider when deciding upon, most notably the pressure the travel of rugby puts on his young family, and his ties with the NRL and the Sharks.

"It's no secret my dad's (Steve Rogers) the chief executive of the Cronulla Sharks," he said.

"I'm surrounded by league, I still live at Cronulla and I've got plenty of mates who play at the Sharks.

"The speculation is there and it's going to be there until a decision is made but I've really enjoyed rugby over the last three years and I'm hoping to stay in the game for the next three years.

"So we've got a few creases to iron out and once we do that hopefully I'll be able to sign some contracts and get underway."

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones denied there was a perception former league players such as Rogers and Lote Tuqiri - also considering returning to the NRL - switched codes solely to be a part of last year's World Cup.

"If they weren't such good footballers they wouldn't be in this position," Jones said.

"We can only put what we think is our best offer and offer what the sport gives the player and Matty and Lote have got to make their best decision."

Rogers, whose Super 12 season ended in March following surgery to an ankle injury, will spend another two weeks on crutches but hopes to be playing club rugby before the end of June.

He still hopes to be a part of the Wallabies' European tour at the end of the year.

"I'm sure I'll be fit by then, but whether I've got enough game time under my belt and enough quality game time under my belt to warrant that selection is another thing," he said.

 

[Nuffs]

all the reports are the same. same writer, same facts, different websites.

latest i heard was peachey retiring, matty gets $450,000 a year, plays fullback, everyone is happy

pick a story, any story

 

[Nages]

Watching the Sharks play might be swaying his decision in recent weeks me thinks...

 

[Bastard Squad]

Look, he's down in bleak-city to gee up the locals for an RU test match, he's hardly going to say "Yeah, I want to go back to the Sharks because Rugby League is the greatest game of all."

He's being loyal to his current employer, thats all.

 

[King of the Hill]

Those stories were written by Associated Press writers and picked up by different media outlets, thus the overlap of quotes etc and unfortunately that means the story is less likely to be biased either way

 

[sharknows]

The ARU are looking at $450K a year for Matt and up to $500K for Lote. I don't think we'll see either of them back in NRL at that rate. I think both of them have been talking up the return to NRL only as a tactic to increase the ARU offers. Pretty clever if it works!

 

[Macca]

If it works? It's been working for years. These player agents need to be stopped. They are constantly talking up false offers (speculation) in the media at every chance they get. It's all to get a better deal for their client. It leads to another Super League. If we aren't careful then that's what we'll get but it will be a combined RU/RL game.

 

[newman]

I know hes sharks stock, but can he seriously wanna come back here?

Last year hes playin a pivotal role in possibly the biggest game of any code in recent memory in front of the craziest crowd. Lets not beat around the bush here, that RWC Final was the pinnacle of rugby sport .

Does he really wanna come back and struggle with the sharks in front of small woolooware crowd? I honestly dont think that I would.

I hope hes not as cynical as I am........

 

[Mr Angry]

I know hes sharks stock, but can he seriously wanna come back here?

I don't care, play kickby, catch a cold, forget how to tackle, take the money.

Last year hes playin a pivotal role in possibly the biggest game of any code in recent memory in front of the craziest crowd. Lets not beat around the bush here, that RWC Final was the pinnacle of rugby sport .

rugby is truly crap then, they should just play soccer and may the best kicker win. Do you own a tweed jacket with elbow patches?
The RWC was an event, the games were just crap, close giving a hint of excitement, but really boring to watch a whole tornament won because of kicking skill. :?
He can have it.

Does he really wanna come back and struggle with the sharks in front of small woolooware crowd? I honestly dont think that I would.

Way to be a Sharks man!!

I hope hes not as cynical as I am........

I hope he is enjoying his money.

 

[Quint]

I know hes sharks stock, but can he seriously wanna come back here?

I don't care, play kickby, catch a cold, forget how to tackle, take the money.

Last year hes playin a pivotal role in possibly the biggest game of any code in recent memory in front of the craziest crowd. Lets not beat around the bush here, that RWC Final was the pinnacle of rugby sport .

rugby is truly crap then, they should just play soccer and may the best kicker win. Do you own a tweed jacket with elbow patches?
The RWC was an event, the games were just crap, close giving a hint of excitement, but really boring to watch a whole tornament won because of kicking skill. :?
He can have it.

Does he really wanna come back and struggle with the sharks in front of small woolooware crowd? I honestly dont think that I would.

Way to be a Sharks man!!

I hope hes not as cynical as I am........

I hope he is enjoying his money.

$450 K to set up his family comfortably or $300K to entertain your personal hopes and needs..... :roll: :roll:
I know what I'd do.....
Sure as shit I'd love to have him back,but don't bag him for looking out for his and his families best interests.....way selfish man

 

[ali]

The way some people go on about Union astonishes me. Supposedly 4 Billion people were going to watch the tournament, but only 20 million people ended up watching the final. Thats only 4 times more people than will watch this year's NRL Grand Final.

I'm a bit worried Rogers, like Lote, again to a liking to the jersey at the Qantas launch. But I'm not sure I'd take too much notice of quotes coming from Rogers at an official ARU event. One thing we've learnt from Rogers is that he likes to open his month, and quite often anything comes out. I'm still fairly confident he'll come back. Lote though, I think will stay.

 

[newman]

Look, angry. I aint no union supporter and I sure as hell aint wearing a tweed jacket. Despite this, I cant deny the fact that for the RWC final, the majority of the nation was interested, not to mention the majority of England. Most of em were downright enthralled. Even non-sports fans. I cant remember a league game ever doing this. When you talk about scale, leaugue just cant match that, yet. A game, of that scale, being that close, would be the highlight of any players career.

Can you see my point that he may lack motivation to go back down the ladder of achievement and play NRL for the Sharks?

I hope like hell he does. I really do, but I honestly cant see him busting his nuts to do so.

 

[shadowboxer]

i agree newman. I watched the games of the world cup here and there, disappointed somewhat but overall pleased with the exposure and the interest it created to all walks of life.

Rugby league on the other hand has offered nothing of this scope and probally never will. That doesnt bother me becuase i follow a local team and love it. But to turn and bag rugby union and give the world cup a boo hoo is totally wrong. Rugby league has to try and compete with the opposition whether that be union, afl or soccer.

Unfortunately, all the good that was done last year has now vanished in the smoke and mirrors of rape allegations, crappy refs and brawling.

 

[Macca]

The only Rugby I enjoy is the Bledisloe Cup and the WC. I catch a Waratahs game once in a while but it just doesn't compare to RL for me.

 

[Quint]

The only Rugby I enjoy is the Bledisloe Cup and the WC. I catch a Waratahs game once in a while but it just doesn't compare to RL for me.

Atleast you said for ' For Me '.That is your opinion and your choice.
But it seems some people on this forum think that there way is the only way,and that their opinions,likes and dislikes should be followed by all..
What a boring world it would be if everyone agreed with each other..