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Rogers weighs up offers
By Chris Stedman
April 27, 2004
INJURED Wallabies fullback Mat Rogers will decide by the end of next month whether to accept a new contract with the Australian Rugby Union or return to rugby league.
Rogers' manager, Jim Flaherty, revealed yesterday the rugby league interest in the 28-year-old extended beyond his former club Cronulla, where his father Steve is chief executive.
"We will weigh up all the options in the coming weeks but Cronulla have been joined by two other clubs in expressing an interest," Flaherty said.
"Just because his father is the boss at Cronulla doesn't mean they're on their own. Clubs with premiership claims have expressed interest and will have to be considered."
Flaherty would not reveal the identity of the clubs but said Rogers' future would be decided by the end of next month.
Rogers snr is confident that if Mat returns to league it will be with Cronulla where the lure of playing five-eighth has been raised.
"It's obvious that we can't match rugby's offer but there is more to this decision than money. Mat was away from home in South Africa and New Zealand last month and he has a young family," Steve Rogers said.
"This is obviously a factor and yes we have discussed the possibility of him playing five-eighth."
Rogers, whose ARU contract expires at the end of the year, has made good progress from ankle surgery last month and is expected to return to club football with Southern Districts in August.
ARU high performance manager Brett Robinson said yesterday the retention of World Cup backs Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Stephen Larkham was a priority following the decision to extend the contract of Wallabies coach Eddie Jones to the end of 2007.
Ali Lauiti'iti formally accepted New Zealand Warriors' offer of a release yesterday and English club Wigan is favoured to gain the services of the 24-year-old Kiwi Test forward.
Lauiti'iti was in conflict with the club about his attitude to football
By Chris Stedman
April 27, 2004
INJURED Wallabies fullback Mat Rogers will decide by the end of next month whether to accept a new contract with the Australian Rugby Union or return to rugby league.
Rogers' manager, Jim Flaherty, revealed yesterday the rugby league interest in the 28-year-old extended beyond his former club Cronulla, where his father Steve is chief executive.
"We will weigh up all the options in the coming weeks but Cronulla have been joined by two other clubs in expressing an interest," Flaherty said.
"Just because his father is the boss at Cronulla doesn't mean they're on their own. Clubs with premiership claims have expressed interest and will have to be considered."
Flaherty would not reveal the identity of the clubs but said Rogers' future would be decided by the end of next month.
Rogers snr is confident that if Mat returns to league it will be with Cronulla where the lure of playing five-eighth has been raised.
"It's obvious that we can't match rugby's offer but there is more to this decision than money. Mat was away from home in South Africa and New Zealand last month and he has a young family," Steve Rogers said.
"This is obviously a factor and yes we have discussed the possibility of him playing five-eighth."
Rogers, whose ARU contract expires at the end of the year, has made good progress from ankle surgery last month and is expected to return to club football with Southern Districts in August.
ARU high performance manager Brett Robinson said yesterday the retention of World Cup backs Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Stephen Larkham was a priority following the decision to extend the contract of Wallabies coach Eddie Jones to the end of 2007.
Ali Lauiti'iti formally accepted New Zealand Warriors' offer of a release yesterday and English club Wigan is favoured to gain the services of the 24-year-old Kiwi Test forward.
Lauiti'iti was in conflict with the club about his attitude to football
