Gavin Miller, the Cronulla Sharks Immortal, was once asked about the best player he had ever played with — a question he must have encountered countless times.
Without hesitation, Miller replied: "That's an easy one, Sludge. He had it all. If we needed points, we'd throw him the ball. If we needed a hit-up, we'd throw him the ball. He was the most complete player I've ever played with."
Miller, a three-test former Origin captain, was certainly well-credentialed, having shared the field with some of rugby league's greatest talents.
However, according to him, none could hold a candle to Shark number 84, Steve 'Sludge' Rogers.
Sadly, during this week in 1985, the Prince of Centres took the field for the last time in the black, white and blue when he ran onto Belmore Oval for their round one clash with the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs on March 16.
Under the stewardship of Super Coach Jack Gibson and his trusted lieutenant Ron Massey, Cronulla entered the 1985 campaign with high hopes.
They nurtured a talented cohort of young players, including rising stars like Ettingshausen, McGaw, Docking, and Carney. Complementing this promising backline were seasoned veterans like Hatch, Ellison, and Hillier in the formidable pack.
The return of the legendary Steve Rogers, back from two seasons with the St George Dragons, added further excitement.
With such a formidable lineup, expectations soared that the Sharks could mount a strong challenge and return to the finals stage.
Sharks legend David Hatch recalls: "We went through the trials undefeated, we didn't lose a game. The last game we played was against Parra. Everyone goes, 'They're carrying on like they won the grand final', but we were just stoked to go through the trials undefeated."
The match Hatch refers to was played the week prior at Waratah Oval, Newcastle, against '80s powerhouse the Parramatta Eels. After Cronulla's comprehensive 22-6 win, Rugby League Week writer Neil Cadigan reported: "Steve Rogers' experience and anticipation, plus an abundance of natural talent, equals a Cronulla team that is going to shake the daylights out of the premiership this season."
In his final full game for the Sharks, Steve Rogers was named Man of the Match. As recognition of his outstanding performance, he was awarded a ball signed by his teammates, marking the occasion (pictured below).
This moment would later take on added significance given the events that followed.
The optimism and anticipation surrounding Rogers and the Cronulla Sharks' '85 season was abruptly extinguished within a mere nine minutes of their round one clash when he fell victim to a late head-high tackle by Bulldogs player Mark Bugden.
Mark 'Wakka' Wakefield, playing halfback for the Sharks that game, recalls: "When Sludge went down it took the wind out of us, seeing our captain hit in such a violent way."
The picture of a stumbling Rogers being led from the field by Alf Richards and Dr Peter Malouf is still sickening to view many years later.
Cronulla lost the match 18-4, and subsequently lost their next three matches, all but extinguishing their chances of making the playoffs that season.
Following Rogers' injury, Dr Malouf painted a grim picture, describing it as a "very bad break" with additional complications due to nerve damage. Despite the prognosis of eventual healing, the lingering nerve issues posed further challenges for Rogers' recovery.
In a poignant twist of fate, Rogers was named on the bench for the Sharks' final game of the season against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, a team he had faced in the '73 and '78 grand finals.
However, coach Gibson opted not to call upon Rogers to take the field, leaving him unused on the sidelines. This decision marked a bittersweet end to what had promised to be a memorable season for both Rogers and the Sharks.
Despite the horrific injury in 1985, it wasn't all gloom for the legendary Steve Rogers. In August of that year, Rugby League Week bestowed upon him a prestigious honour by naming him in 'The Masters' — Australia's greatest team for players representing their country between 1970 and 1985.
Rogers found himself among illustrious company in a star-studded backline that boasted luminaries such as Graeme Langlands and Mick Cronin, a testament to his enduring impact on the sport at the highest level.
The recognition of Rogers' talent and contribution extended beyond his playing days. In 2003, the Cronulla Sharks honoured his legacy by bestowing upon him their highest honour: induction into the exclusive ranks of the club's Immortals.
This distinguished title places Rogers in esteemed company alongside other Sharks legends such as Andrew Ettingshausen, Gavin Miller, Greg Pierce, and Tommy Bishop, cementing his status as an icon of the club and a symbol of excellence in rugby league history.
