Josh Rogers only had to look at the player next to him to remember his years of reserve grade toil would all be worth it.
Settled alongside Adam Reynolds in Brisbane's halves, the 28-year-old will have a big say in the NRL club's finals fate in a must-win clash with rivals the Dolphins on Saturday.
Ezra Mam's ankle injury has given Rogers an opening to complete the season in the Broncos' No.6, Kevin Walters' side needing wins in the last two rounds, and another St George Illawarra loss, to scrape into eighth place.
It's been a seven-season slog to earn the right, Rogers admitting it was easy to doubt himself as he dominated for Burleigh Bears either side of a stint for Wynnum in the Queensland Cup.
"I'm pretty proud about it to be honest," he said on Monday.
"Seven years of playing Cup is a while to be sitting there thinking you might not get an opportunity.
"You've got to back yourself and that's what I've done the whole time."
He'd watched Jamal Fogarty chip away though, the Burleigh halfback playing just twice for Gold Coast in 2017.
Fogarty was in his late 20s when he finally seized his chance three years later and, after two productive seasons at the Titans, secured a long-term deal with Canberra.
"I didn't think it was ever too late," Rogers said.
"I played at Burleigh with Jamal and he didn't start playing (NRL regularly) until he was 26, 27.
"He was someone where I went, 'If he can do it at a later age ... I'll get my opportunity'."
Rogers made his NRL debut last year but it was his only top-flight opportunity that season.
Injuries, first to Reynolds and then Mam, have seen him play four times in 2024.
After first replacing the veteran halfback, Rogers has enjoyed playing alongside Reynolds in the more familiar No.6.
He scored a crucial try in their comeback 30-26 defeat of Parramatta on Friday.
"Just his calm nature, the way he talks to the team, gets us into spots," Rogers said of the former South Sydney star.
"He makes sure everyone's relaxed on the field.
"Because he's calm he sees it a bit slower, he's got more time to react, work out what he can do for the team, where to play and where to attack the opposition team."
Rogers has plenty of experience against Redcliffe's Queensland Cup outfit but is yet to face the side at NRL level.
"It's going to be pretty spicy; you want to be the kings of Brissy and after a couple of boys went across there (Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth) it'll be nice to go against them again.
"They're in the same situation as us ... they'll be red hot and whoever loses, it's season done. They'll come out firing."
Canberra Times
