Titans great Mat Rogers launches management firm, Rogers Sports Management

Dual-code international Mat Rogers has tackled bigger and scarier people than most but they never filled him with the dread he felt when dealing with another group of people.

Dual-code international Mat Rogers has tackled bigger and scarier people than most but they never filled him with the dread he felt when dealing with another group, away from the security of a football field.

For Rogers, who grew up surrounded by professional sport and athletes, it was the white collar professionals who ruled over a world so foreign to his own that made him the most nervous.

Over 17 years in professional rugby union and rugby league Rogers has rubbed shoulders with high-flying legal and financial giants but that uneasiness never left him.

SPORT: NRL - Rugby League - South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Gold Coast Titans @ ANZ Stadium. Mat Rogers .

It’s why the 44-year-old has rolled the dice on a new career move as principal of his own sports management firm, Rogers Sports Management, connecting athletes with representation who have walked in their shoes.

Rogers has recruited veteran NRL trainer Craig Clifton as a business partner, with ex-Waratah Michael Maxwell of Ada Evans Chambers and former Dragons prop Colin Ward, from TEMPUS Wealth, to provide legal and financial advice respectively.

“As a young player coming into professional sport I remember the professions of finance, law and accounting were so foreign to me,” the former Wallaby and Kangaroo said.

“It was quite intimidating meeting people in those fields.

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Rogers Sports Management founders Mat Rogers and Craig Clifton. Picture: Supplied

“We’ve worked to pull together people from those fields who have sporting backgrounds to take away that intimidation factor.

“I’ve been asked many times over the years to help (other companies) but I just thought the time was right to do it myself.”

Rogers has dipped his feet in these waters before, taking on the responsibility of managing himself for the final eight years of his playing career.

“I did that because I knew I could do a better job,” he said.

“I’ve been around pro sport since I could walk and I’ve lived it personally through a child’s eyes with my dad (Steve, ex-NRL player and Sharks CEO).

“I’ve walked the path and I understand the pitfalls and what can bring people undone.

“The reality is there’s lots of money in sport but it’s not about that – I’ve seen big dollars ruin careers and I’ve seen decisions to take less then blossom into something special.

“This is a decision based on the experiences I’ve had. Some were great, some were really poor.

“We’ll take the great and learn from both sides.”

Rogers said the company had already fielded inquiries from a range of athletes, from footballers to swimmers and triathletes since announcing their launch on Sunday.

He said the company had opened offices on the Gold Coast and Sydney.

Mat Rogers grimaces during the Round 13 NRL game between the Gold Coast Titans vs St George Illawarra Dragons at Skilled Park Robina.