BIG GAME HUNTING
UNHERALDED five-eighth Josh Rogers produced an Anzac Day special to give coach Jimmy Lenihan a looming selection headache as Burleigh ran riot 56-4 against Papua New Guinea.
Rogers only got his chance the past two games due to an injury to usual No.6 Dylan Phythian but he is doing all he can to grab the opportunity with both hands.
Though he didn’t find himself on the scoresheet in the 10-try Kokoda Cup romp yesterday – Troy Leo and Jamal Fogarty both notched doubles – Rogers exuded the kind of confidence he had previously not shown at Intrust Super Cup level.
The 22-year-old willingly took the line on, almost scoring himself and then later putting prop Josh Ailaomai over; he often jumped in at first receiver and forced an error with a towering bomb; and he was there in support to throw the last pass for a Fogarty try.
Phythian is expected back next week but his utility value may be called on should Lenihan decide to stick with Rogers.
“I have been happy with how I have been playing all year so obviously playing well, my confidence has gone up,” the Perth-born pivot said.
“The running game is the biggest part of my game so if I’m playing well I am running the ball a lot. Having fun playing and being confident is allowing me to run the ball when I want and more often.”
Rogers was rewarded for his display by being named the Bears’ best on ground.
“On Anzac Day, to receive that off those four guys who are in the army is just a big honour,” he said.
Not only did the result mark a successful defence of the Kokoda Cup, it was the perfect celebration for Lenihan’s 200th match as coach.
“We talked about it during the week, that it’s his 200th game, so we wanted to come out and put in a good performance for him,” Rogers said.
Lenihan was more satisfied by the killer instinct shown by his players.
“I thought the way we went on with it in the second half was really good,” he said. “We had the composure and maturity to finish the game off really well.”
The Bears’ fourth straight win, which came despite the absence of hooker Pat Politoni (family illness), puts the squad into provisional second on the ladder.
Gold Coast Titans winger Brenko Lee left the field in the 75th minute with hamstring tightness.