Mat Rogers

**Mathew Steve "Mat" Rogers** is a contestant from *Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders* (2018) and *Australian Survivor: All Stars*.

Known for his season-long rivalry with Robbie Skibicki in *2018*, Mat began the game in the majority, and formed many genuine friendships, mainly with Steve Willis and Sharn Coombes, as well as finding a Hidden Immunity Idol with Moana Hope. Upon merge, Mat played a much more aggressive, yet loyal game, leading the blindsides of former allies Lydia Lassila and Samuel Hinton. Unfortunately, this led to his own blindside, led by Benji Wilson, who infamously managed to prevent Sharn from playing her idol on Mat.

Mat was far more unlucky in *All Stars*. He began the game in the minority following Jericho Malabonga's elimination. After finding an idol, Mat worked with rival David Genat to successfully take out Daisy Richardson. However, after the Tribe Switch, Mat was left stranded with no allies, and despite successfully playing yet another idol, he was eventually taken out as the last player left in the minority.

## Profile

*Retrieved from 10play.com.au*

* All Stars

**Age:** 42
**Occupation:** Dual Code Football Legend
**State:** QLD
**Tribe:** Champions​​​​​
Representing Australia in both Rugby League and Rugby Union, Mat has an almost unparalleled sporting history.
Son to a former Australian Rugby League Captain, it seemed inevitable that Mat would follow in his famous father's footsteps.
In his career as a professional Rugby League footballer for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Mat surpassed his father's record as the greatest point scorer in the club's history.
"Rugby was a huge part of my life, not just League but also playing Union, and set me up with some good skills that I think will help me with *Survivor*. Discipline, competitiveness and a sometimes stubborn drive to win."
After a huge career representing Queensland and Australia in League, Mat changed codes to Union in 2001 playing for NSW and Australia before returning to the NRL to play with the Gold Coast Titans.
In 2011, Mat stepped away from sport in order to follow another passion – raising money and awareness for children with autism. In 2009, Mat and his wife, model Chloe Maxwell, founded 4 ASD Kids a charity born out of their first-hand experience with their son's autism disorder.

Wanting to stay true to his word and be a team player, Mat knows that the island will bring out his competitive edge saying, "It's called *Survivor* and that's what I'm there for. I'm there to survive and I want to win. It won't be easy for me to break alliances or not tell everyone the truth but I'm going to try."
**43, NRL Legend — Season 3**
The Godfather returns, and he's ready to go! NRL and Rugby League great, Mat has become one of Australian Survivor's most recognisable faces. He made it to the Jury in Season 3 alongside his best mate in the game, Commando, and Mat is looking forward to seeing what the All Stars can bring.
"I really hope to see Moana again. She had a tough run in our season so would love to see her healthy and smashing it. I loved Luke and Dave last time – they're my favourites, hands down! I hated Dave initially, but he grew on me and Luke is such a loveable rogue."
Still reeling from leaving the game with an Immunity Idol in his pocket, his number one fear returning is being blindsided again. "I've got no set strategy, I'll just play the situation and not be afraid to have to burn people this time around.
Being voted out again with an Idol would be my worst nightmare "I won't be so open with people this time, so I think I'll be a little less trustworthy. I'll try playing from the bottom so I get more info and can play smart."

## Australian Survivor

### *Champions v Contenders*

Mat was a key part of the majority Template:Dab alliance, forming particularly strong bonds with Moana Hope, Sharn Coombes, and Steve Willis as well as solid working relationships with Samuel Hinton and Lydia Lassila to have a majority. Mat's leadership in challenges along with his individual performances, notably against Robbie Skibicki of the Template:Dab, helped the Champions go into the swap with numbers. Initially playing a quite game and focusing on challenge strength, Mat became more strategic and cutthroat as the game progressed. Mat remained on the Champions tribe after the Tribe Switch where he had good relationships with Samuel, Steve W., and Shane Gould (though he contributed to flushing Shane's Hidden Immunity Idol at a previous Tribal Council) but had to maneuver the Contenders pair of Tegan Gasior and Shonee Fairfax as well as previous Champions outsiders Jackie Glazier and Brian Lake. Though the outsiders became aware of Mat leading the alliance in power, the two pairs outside of Mat's alliance targeted each other, allowing Mat to enter the merge in a good position.

Mat became labeled as the "godfather" of the Champions alliance after he contributed to Lydia's blindside, and a new strategic rivalry between him and Benji Wilson developed. Benji talked to whoever he could in an attempt to usurp Mat's power, but for the time being, Mat's alliance stood firm and took out anyone who would work with Benji, namely Robbie and Samuel. At the final 9, Brian and Monika Radulovic began to consider making their move against Mat, joining Benji, Shonee, and Fenella McGowan's counter alliance. Mat and Sharn each had an idol, and though the majority of the votes were coming Mat's way on Day 37, it appeared that Sharn's idol play would keep Mat in the game and eliminate one of Mat's long time targets in Brian. However, Benji managed to convince Sharn at the last second to play the idol on herself, which turned out to be a waste. Mat was voted out 5-4 that night, becoming the third member of the jury.

At Final Tribal Council, Mat's elimination was a significant topic in assessing if Sharn was worthy of winning the game, since not only did she misplay her idol but Brian also interpreted it as contradictory to her loyalty argument. Mat cast a crucial vote for Shane to win, praising Shane for her honesty.

#### Voting History

**^1** In "Episode 2", the vote ended with a 4-4 tie between Jackie and Russell, forcing a revote. Mat changed his vote to Russell on the revote.
**^2** In "Episode 6", Shane used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Mat's vote against her.

### *All Stars*

Though Mat tried to deflect credit for Lydia's blindside in the opening conversation, he was still thrust into the spotlight as the leader of one of the two warring alliances on Vakama. Mat's alliance of Moana, Jacqui Patterson, Tarzan Herlaar, and Jericho Malabonga was outnumbered by the rival alliance led by Locky Gilbert and David Genat. Mat's attempts to flip Phoebe Timmins and AK Knight failed as the rival alliance succeeded in voting out Jericho on Day 5. Feeling vulnerable, Mat asked Henry Nicholson for the idol which was set to expire in the following Tribal Council. Vakama would lose on Day 7 and Mat received the idol. Mat and David bartered with each other to take out each other's alliances while secretly working together. David instructed Mat to play his idol on Jacqui but only if Mat's alliance voted for Daisy. In doing so, David flushes Mat's idol, settles a vendetta against Daisy, and keeps his numbers. Mat follows through with the plan, eliminating Daisy and closing the gap between the alliances 6-4. Mat quickly found another Hidden Immunity Idol following Vakama's Reward Challenge victory, albeit publically in front of the other alliance. Mat rubbed his safety in Locky's face, compounding the latter's frustration.

The Tribe Switch gave Mat a tough situation to navigate. David, Jacqui, Moana, and Tarzan were all placed on the opposite tribe and he was stuck with Locky and three of his closest allies. Mat stuck with them out of necessity as the Vakama alliance recruited Shonee and Harry Hills in targeting Abbey Holmes and her allies. As Vakama continued to lose challenges, Mat became nervous as he knew he was the next target after that Mokuta alliance was wiped out. With eight players remaining on the tribe, Mat anticipated a split vote coming his way, so he recruited John Eastoe, Harry, Shonee, and Flick Egginton in an attempt to vote out Locky. While each of them realized Locky was in a powerful position, they felt it was too early to make a move. The split vote went as planned, Mat played his idol to negate 3 votes against him, and John was voted out. Mat continued to fight for his spot in the game claiming they needed him for challenge strength. Ultimately, the other six Vakama members were too close to budge and Mat was voted out on Day 22.

#### Voting History

**^1** In "Episode 9", Mat used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating 3 votes against him.

## Trivia

1. ↑ https://10play.com.au/australian-survivor/participants/season-3/mat/pa190317itu
2. ↑ https://10play.com.au/australian-survivor/participants/season-5/mat/pa200203doncv