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Titans struggling with Rogers future

By Wayne Heming 02/08/2010 06:07:25 PM Comments (0)

Gold Coast boss Michael Searle has labelled the decision on the playing future of dual international Mat Rogers the toughest call he's had to make in the club's four year NRL existence.

Searle and coach John Cartwright are weighing up whether to re-sign the popular 34-year-old, who gave them food for thought after scoring two tries in the club's crucial win over the Warriors at the weekend.

Rogers said after the game he was not losing any sleep over his playing future, which he expected would be sorted out sometime in the next month.

"There is no uncertainty for me, because I'm not concerned about it," Rogers told AAP at the weekend.

While Searle said he was thrilled with the relaxed "space" Rogers was in, it didn't make his decision any less difficult.

"I've got to a make a really, really difficult decision, probably the toughest one I've had to make or at least the most significant," Searle told AAP on Monday.

"There's a fine line between playing one season too long and he's got good young players underneath him as well.

"But if Carty (Cartwright) and I, when we talk to Mat, decide he can provide value to the team and not block a pathway for a young footballer, we'd offer him another opportunity."

Searle had no doubt Rogers, who would almost certainly have to take a pay cut to keep playing, would be successful in whatever role he chose, whether it was media, sponsorship, sales, marketing or coaching.

The Titans trumpeted Rogers's signing in their inaugural year in January 2007 after he walked out on the Wallabies for personal reasons and returned to rugby league.

"The fact he is so comfortable about his position says a lot about his private life," said Searle."

"That's a great reward for a man who came back to our game at a very difficult time in his private life who has now got his stuff together.

"That's the best news I've heard for a while."

If Rogers does not pick-up a new deal with the Titans he is expected to retire from playing altogether, with no deals on the horizon at other clubs.

Meanwhile Searle said the Titans had an offer in hand for Storm centre Greg Inglis but wouldn't move on it until he was granted an official release by Melbourne.

Brisbane have already tabled an offer to Inglis which is in the hands of his agent Allan Gainey.

"We won't be putting our offer in until one, Melbourne will grant him a release, and two, until we know our contract would be endorsed and registered by the NRL," said Searle.

"Until I get both of those things, we'll just sit with out powder dry."

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