He is certainly in the conversation when it comes to the greatest Shark of all time, with the abilities and exploits of Steve Rogers to stand the test of time for decades to come.
With size, strength, power and speed, an uncanny game awareness and a defensive technique that often had opposition players looking over their shoulder, Rogers possessed all the attributes a rugby league player would need.
They say no player has it all, with some of the games’ attacking geniuses somewhat fragile in the defensive department, the great defenders often lacking in flair and guile. Rogers was one of those rare breed, a player who had all bases covered.
Debuting in first grade in 1973 as an 18-year-old, Rogers would finish the season playing in the Sharks Grand Final side, more than holding his own in that brutal confrontation with the Manly- Sea Eagles despite his tender years.
Such was the impression he made throughout his debut season, Rogers would be then chosen for the Kangaroo Tour of the UK and France which followed.
From there his career escalated as he wowed Sharks fans and proved to be a thorn in the side of all teams he would play against.
In 1978 Rogers captained the Sharks to the Grand Final and on a personal note he would receive the Dally M Medal in 1981, as well as Captain and Lock of the Year in the same year, in addition to claiming the Rothmans Medal in 1975.
Rogers would represent the Kangaroos on 24 occasions, NSW in 21 matches both before and during the Origin era, while playing 202 games for the Sharks.
His 82 tries, 501 goals and 5 field goals, for a total points tally of 1253, still stands to this day as the Sharks club record. Ironically, second on the list of points scored for the Sharks is his youngest son Mat.
Tragically Rogers passed away in 2006. At the time of his death he was the Sharks Football Club CEO.
The Rogers family was well represented at the Sharks 50th Anniversary Ball, with daughter Mel in the crowd and son Don accepting Steve’s medal on his behalf after he was named in the centres with Andrew Ettingshausen in the Sharks Team of the Half Century.
A Sharks Immortal, a legend of the game and now alongside son Mat as a member of the Team of the Half Century, the Steve Rogers legacy will last for a long time to come at the Cronulla Club.
