Steve Rogers Trophy to the winner on Friday

And he wants to see it back on display at Manly Leagues Club for Sea Eagles fans to enjoy!

The Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy has been contested for every year since March 2006 between the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

The two clubs will again meet for the trophy in Cronulla this Friday night. Manly has won the trophy 21 times from the 32 matches played.

With Rogers having formed close friendships with Manly greats including Bob Fulton, Krilich and Paul McCabe on Kangaroo touring teams, the Sharks and Sea Eagles decided to create a special cup in honour of Rogers, who passed away tragically in 2006 at the age of 51.

Rogers enjoyed a longstanding rivalry with Manly, having played in the brutal grand final loss to the Sea Eagles in 1973.

He captained the Sharks in the 1978 grand final and grand final replay against the Krilich-led Sea Eagles.

Rogers played 202 first grade games for Cronulla, 21 games for NSW, 24 Tests for Australia and won a Rothmans Medal and Dally M Player of the Year award.

He was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2008 and named as one of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) in a list commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year.

Krilich said he has fond memories of playing against Rogers and as a NSW and Australian team-mate.

“I don’t know why he got the nickname ‘Sludge’?  That means slow moving. He was anything but a slow mover,’’ Krilich said.

Steve was probably one of the most complete footballers I’ve seen.

Max Krilich

“He was a great attacking player. He was as fast as the wind. Probably not as fast as Reg Gasnier or Ken Irvine, but not far from it.

“Steve could do everything on the football field. It is amiss that he is not an Immortal to be honest.

“Several years ago, I was on a table of 10 at a function. We all spoke about who should be the next Immortal, and seven of us said Steve Rogers.

“He is highly thought of. Very highly.

“Steve was a winner. He was a great competitor.

“He was like (Manly Immortal) Bob Fulton. Hated losing. He didn’t cop it all.

“I used to just take losing with a grain of salt because at Manly, I knew there be another win around the corner.

“It didn’t worry me too much losing. I didn’t lose many times.

“Steve was also a great goal-kicker. But in 1978, he missed a goal from nearly in front, about 10 yards to the right of the posts, to win the Grand Final against us.

“He didn’t miss many, but that was one time he did. That’s pressure for you.

“Don’t worry, ‘Bozo’ and I used to remind him about it when we played or saw him.

“The funny thing is that in all the years we played against each other, they (Cronulla) never beat us. Steve hated that too.

“Cronulla have held the cup for the last few years, so it’s time to get the Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy back at Manly.”

Steve Rogers Memorial Trophy

Matches played: 32 (Manly 21, Cronulla 11)

2025, Rd 10: Cronulla 30 d 14, Rd 6: Cronulla 24 d Manly 18

2024, Rd 27: Cronulla 40 d Manly 20

2023, Rd 11: Cronulla 20 d Manly 14, Rd 21: Manly 30 d Cronulla 26

2022, Rd 7: Cronulla 34 d Manly 22, Rd 23: Cronulla 40 d Manly 6

2021, Rd 20: Manly 40 d Cronulla 22

2020, Rd 7: Cronulla 40 d Manly 22

2019, Rd 10: Manly 24 d Cronulla 14

2018, Rd 21: Manly 33 d Cronulla 32

2017, Rd 16: Manly 35 d Cronulla 18

2016, Rd 3: Manly 22 d Cronulla 12, Rd 11: Cronulla 20 d Manly 12

2015, Rd 26: Manly 14 d Cronulla 12; Rd 17, Manly 28 d Cronulla 16.

2014, Rd 6: Manly 24 d Cronulla 4, Rd 15: Manly 26 d Cronulla 0

2013, Rd 6: Manly 25 d Cronulla 18; SF: Manly 24 d Cronulla 18

2012, Rd 3: Cronulla 17 d Manly 14

2011, Rd 5: Manly 19 d Cronulla 13

2010, Rd 5: Manly 40 d Cronulla 12; Rd 19: Manly 48 d Cronulla 18

2009, Rd 19: Manly 32 d Cronulla 26: Rd 25: Manly 18 d Cronulla 16

2008, Rd 1: Cronulla 16 d Manly 10, Rd 18: Manly 34 d Cronulla 6

2007, Rd 19: Manly 29 d Cronulla 22

2006, Rd 3: Manly 20 d Cronulla 18, Rd 16 Cronulla 15 d Manly 12