Call to arms: Former teammates rally around grand final sides
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Josh Rogers may be a proud Wynnum Manly Seagulls player now, but for today’s Hostplus Cup grand final clash, he certainly hasn’t forgotten his Burleigh roots.
Rogers – one of 29 Cup players to make their NRL debut this year – moved from Western Australia and joined Burleigh’s Hastings Deering Colts team in 2015 before earning his elevation to Cup in 2018.
The five-eighth played with the Bears up until the end of last season, when he earned his development contract with the Brisbane Broncos, and played for their affiliate club Wynnum Manly in 2023.
And while the Bears may have knocked Wynnum Manly out of finals contention last week, Rogers will be at Kayo Stadium this afternoon, backing his former teammates all the way.
“I’m real happy for them,” Rogers said.
“Obviously they beat Wynnum last week, which sucked a bit. But it’s nice to see them make a grand final. I have a lot of friends there still so it’s nice to see them make the grand final this year.
“They still means a lot (as a club). Obviously coming over from Perth in 2015, I came straight to Burleigh. I was there for six, seven years so I was there for a while.
“They’re still like my second family. I love my time at Wynnum but I have a lot of friends there at Burleigh and still have a great connection with a lot of them.”
Rogers is particularly close with his former halves partner Guy Hamilton, who will don the No.7 jersey today for the Bears, now partnered with experienced playmaker, Tyrone Roberts.
The 27-year-old is also good friends with Brisbane Tigers prop Tristan Powell, who was his roommate when the pair played together at Burleigh.
“Hamo, me and him had a good connection last year,” Rogers said.
“Six and seven, we had that combination all year. We were close. Obviously one of the other boys that plays for (Tigers) as well, Tristan Powell.
“Me and him lived together and us three were real close. I hope Tristan goes well but I’ll be going for Burleigh.”
Rogers has had a strong 2023 season, playing one NRL game for the Broncos in Round 27 and earlier this week picking up the five-eighth of the year and the leading points scorer awards for the Hostplus Cup.
He’s not the only Bronco today with a vested interest in the result, with Patrick Carrigan a Tigers junior, while Billy Walters played for the club in their 2018 grand final loss to the Redcliffe Dolphins.
Jesse Arthars meanwhile played for Burleigh throughout the 2019 season while contracted to the Gold Coast Titans.
Rogers said the pathway from Cup to NRL was evident and he would be forever grateful to Burleigh for helping him get his foot in the door.
“It gave me confidence,” he said of his time at the Bears.
“The last couple of years playing at Burleigh, I enjoyed my time there and when I was having fun, it made me play better.
“That made my confidence better and helped me out and that’s how I was able to get a contract at the Broncs.”
