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Mat Rogers returns for Gold Coast Titans

4th July, 2011
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Scenes of shattered players in the Gold Coast dressing room are nothing new to Titans fans this season. But the aftermath of their last NRL loss proved too much for Mat Rogers.

The dual international arrived at the Skilled Park match happily retired – but he left in the wake of the Titans’ 36-12 loss on June 25 with very itchy feet indeed.

Barely a week later, Rogers returned to Titans’ training after sensationally being re-registered by the NRL cellar dwellers.

“Afterwards, I just went down and saw the boys in the dressing room and there was a lot of hurt,” Rogers said at his first session back on Monday.

“I chatted to Carty (coach John Cartwright) after the game to say g’day and I could just see that there was a lot of pain in his voice.

“When I saw that and then I had that meeting with him on Monday (last week), it definitely flicked a switch inside me.

“I thought if he thinks I’ve got something to offer and that I can help, then I’m more than happy to.

“Had I not gone to that game, I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you now.”

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Cartwright would give no guarantees on when – or if – Rogers would play for the Gold Coast, saying it is all about the veteran’s positive influence on the squad during a dark time.

Rogers conceded his “best playing days are behind me”.

“To be honest, I feel like I can play,” he said.

“But it’d be ridiculous to think that I haven’t done anything for nine months and now I’m going to come back, do three training sessions and play on Friday night (against the Warriors at Skilled Park).

“It’s the NRL. I’m not playing reserve grade for the Burleigh Bears.

“If I can help them out on the field by playing with them, I will.

“If it means just being here at training every day to push the guys and build their spirits, then I’ll do that.

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“I’m not here to be a saviour or anything other than just a mate to my friends and to try and help out if I can.”

Rogers certainly looked the part on Monday – his first training session back featured the dreaded beep test, which he finished ahead of almost half the field.

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