Rogers calls for change on Titans' board
Aug 24, 2017 - 1:26 AM Mat Rogers is sick of hearing Gold Coast players defending the decisions of the NRL club's board, claiming the Titans need to change more than their coach to turn around the franchise's fortunes.Retiring on the Gold Coast after 77 games with the club, the former Wallaby and Kangaroo pointed to a lack of football experience on the board.
He has earmarked the NRL-owned club's impending sale as its potential turning point.
While accepting the decision to sack coach Neil Henry on the grounds of performance, Rogers called for an administrative overhaul.
"I feel like that board can't bring it back and maybe there will be changes there when a new owner comes in," he said.
"There is just constant drama that surrounds the club, all clubs have that drama but just manage it better."
He said the players were being "hung out to dry" when forced to defend the club's decisions before and after the sacking of the coach.
On Wednesday three players fronted the media, with Saturday's final home game of the season against Canterbury barely rating a mention.
"It's been a tough week, two weeks, for the club and playing group (who are) again in the spotlight for something we don't want to be in the spotlight for," centre Dale Copely admitted.
"Everyone will be probing us as to what's happening and unfortunately we don't have a lot of answers."
In a curious move, senior players Kevin Proctor and Jarrod Wallace publicly backed Henry to remain in the job on Monday, not knowing the board had already decided to sack him two days earlier.
"It's so bent out of shape," Rogers said.
"It's not the players' jobs to defend the coach - their jobs are to train and play well, not defend the actions of the board.
"Football people (on the board) could certainly help in those situations, because I know what football players are like."
Rogers has an axe to grind after being overlooked for a position on the board two years ago in what he labelled "disrespectful" fashion.
Dismissed as an applicant after a 10-minute phone call, with no explanation for his rejection, Rogers said he was bewildered when the club settled on six business figures with no football experience.
But Rogers is not alone in his criticism, former NRL pair Martin Lang and Scott Sattler as well as former Titans coach John Cartwright all saying as much this week.
Linked to a potential buyer who he refused to name, Rogers said he would "absolutely" put his name forward as a potential administrator.
Source: AAP
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