Affectionately known as ‘The Prince of the Centres’, Steve Rogers is a player synonymous with the Cronulla Sharks Football Club, and so is nominated for Centre in our Team of the Half Century.
Steve Frederick Rogers arrived at the Cronulla Sharks from the Southport Tigers in 1973, with his rare talent seeing him elevated straight into first grade that same year.
A majestic runner of the football, Rogers featured in the Sharks 1973 Grand Final defeat to Manly at the ripe old age of 18 and capped the year off by making the first of three Kangaroo tours.
From here, Rogers’ career took off, seeing him selected in New South Wales and further Kangaroos sides along with captaining the Sharks.
After a stellar 1975 season, Rogers was awarded the Rothmans Medal for the best and fairest player in the league along with being an integral member of the Kangaroos World Cup squad that same year.
Over the next few years, Rogers would continue to be instrumental for the Sharks, leading his side to the 1978 Grand Final where they were eventually defeated by Manly again.
Rogers continued his run in the green and gold of the Kangaroos as he played in the 1979 Ashes Series against Great Britain before captaining the side against France in 1981.
In another first, Rogers was a part of the inaugural State of Origin Series in 1980, where he featured on four occasions.
1981 would prove to be a memorable one for Rogers as he was crowned Dally M Player of the Year along with Dally M Captain and Lock of the Year too.
After stints with the St George Dragons and Widnes in the English League, Rogers would return to the Sharks as Chief Executive Officer before tragically passing in 2006.
To one of the greatest ever Sharks, you’ll be forever in the heart and mind of the Cronulla Football Club.
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