Mat Rogers says history will not hurt Cronulla in Sunday’s NRL grand final

THE Rogers family were at the forefront of some of Cronulla’s worst grand final heartbreaks but Mat says the weight of history won’t cripple the Sharks on Sunday.

Mat Rogers (ball) during 1997 Cronulla v Canberra Super League final game at Shark Park. 13/09/97. Rugby A/CT

AS close as squabbling brothers, the Sharks and the Dragons have always done scant business on player trades.

It just doesn’t feel right, as the greatest of all Cronulla stars, Steve Rogers, learned when he wore the Red V in the early 1980s. He’d gone with gritted teeth but the Sharks were broke and he had kids in local schools.

“He bit the bullet and went across the bridge to St George. Dad used to say they was the worst three years of his life,” Mat Rogers says.

“It broke his heart. He was a Shark, you know? Cronulla was in his blood.”

Steve Rogers returned home to the Sharks, both as a player and football staffer, and at the time of his premature passing 10 years ago, “Sludge” was running the club as chief executive.

Few had the black, white and blue pumping through the veins more than Steve Rogers and it was a genetic condition: son Mat grew into a 127-game club great as well and for the past two years grandson Jack was in the Sharks under 20s system.

Cronulla captain Greg Pierce (L) and Steve Rogers with 1978 Amco Cup trophy after defeating combined Brisbane in final at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.

Steve Rogers with his sons Don and Mat, in the dressing room after a game.

So intertwined are the Rogers clan and Cronulla, when the Sharks run out for their fifth grand final on Sunday at ANZ Stadium it will be the club’s first decider without a Rogers on the field.

Steve was in the 1973 and 1978 sides, and Mat played in the 1997 team.

But as far as Mat is concerned, it’s a matter of no Rogers, no worries.

That curiosity could even symbolise a critical breakthrough in the club’s pursuit of a premiership, he believes.

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After 50 seasons of local sons trying — and failing — to bring home a title, it’s a lack of connection to Cronulla’s history that could help finally end the drought.

“We made the final in ‘97 but hands down the best side we had was ‘99, and we should have won it,” Rogers says.

“It still haunts me, that year of my life. The pressure got to us a bit, I believe. We had a strong influence of local players and that hoodoo of never winning it probably got to us more than it does with this (2016) team.

Steve Rogers in action for the Sharks in 1985.

“They’re mostly not from Cronulla so the history thing, it’s not a burden. They’re just not in that headspace. They’re going out there and doing their job, and that’s great to see. Once that monkey is off the back, who knows what’s to come ahead?”

A monkey-less future for Cronulla came close to starting decades ago.

In the 1978 grand final and the scores stuck at 11-all, Steve Rogers had a shot at field goal from in front with four minutes left.

He’d have hit four of five at training but this one drifted right, and the premiership dream drifted away in a replay against Manly the following week.

Thirty-seven seasons have since passed.

“It’s crazy isn’t it? He talked about that kick, and that game, his whole life,” Rogers said.

“When you are a player, there are certain games in your career you just remember. They’re hard to shake. I don’t think I am over ‘99 and ‘78 got to him, that’s for sure.

“I asked him about the ‘73 grand final and said: ‘You must have been shattered to miss that opportunity’. He goes: ‘Mate, I was just happy I got off the field in once piece. I was an 18-year-old kid, absolutely terrified of what I saw going on around me’.”

It might sadden some to think a maiden Sharks title with no Rogers connection but it’s the Shire, of course there’s a connection.

Chad Townsend is the only Cronulla junior in the team and he just happened to spent half his childhood playing on Mat Rogers’ front lawn.

“I have known Chad since he was 10 years old,” Rogers said.

Mat Rogers was part of the Sharks minor premiership winning side in 1999.

“We were neighbours, he lived about three doors down. I was playing for the Sharks at the time and he was a massive Sharks fan. He always seemed to find himself in my front yard with his footy, running around in his Yarrawaraah Tigers outfit.”

Rogers still plays the older brother to the Sharks No. 7 when needed.

After being hooked against Canberra, Townsend got a text from Rogers saying “we’re all behind you”. Lifted back up, the Sharks halfback came out and played a stormer against the Cowboys.

Rogers attended the Sharks Grand Final lunch on Friday, where the mood was one of quiet optimism. After all these years of suffering, a team who doesn’t feel the burden of Cronulla’s past could be the ones to write a new future.

“It’s probably as good a chance as we have seen since 1978,” Rogers said.

Rogers will watch the decider with his brother Don and it will be a day of mixed emotions. Their dad Steve won’t be sitting next to them but the proudest Shark of all will still be with them, Mat says.

“It would have been special for him to be here but we will have a beer for him on Sunday and hope the boys can get the job done,” he said.

“It will be a special day. He will be there, in thoughts. For sure.”