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"Treated like a piece of crap": Players slammed over rep footy "joke"
SEN • October 1st, 2025 10:14 am
Former Australia international Mat Rogers has slammed James Tedesco for his decision to withdraw from Kangaroos selection for the Ashes, saying the international jersey is being “treated like a piece of crap”.
Earlier this week, Peter V’landys confirmed that the Roosters star would not be in contention for the forthcoming series in England because he is due to be best man at his brother’s wedding.
It’s a huge blow to Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters who will announce his squad next week.
But in a season that has seen numerous players defect to play for other nations, Rogers launched an impassioned defence of representative football, fearing it has become a joke in the eyes of current professionals.
“He didn’t book it last week,” Rogers said referring to the family wedding. “You book a wedding in Sydney you need two years notice.
“I’m frustrated, I’m angry and I’m getting angrier. The Australian jersey is being treated like an absolute piece of crap. Being treated like a doormat.
“It’s not an option whether you play or you don’t play. If you’re fit and healthy and you can play then you play. It’s in your contract, it’s your job. Unless you put your hand up and say I’m not playing representative football then you’re available.
“All these players scratching their heads, not sure who they want to play for. You make that decision once.
“I grew up in a little town in the shire. In 1981-2, I supported my dad playing Origin for NSW.
“When I had to make a decision who I was going to play for in Origin do you think it was a hard decision? Bloody oath it was. I was stuck, but once I made a decision I couldn’t change it.
“All this to-ing and fro-ing with rep players wandering where they’re going to play has made the international game a farce, it’s a joke.”
Rogers wants international football to adopt a similar system to origin when it comes to pledging an allegiance.
“Make a decision when you come into the game like you do with Origin,” he continued.
“It’s making the Australian jersey become a joke and it means everything to me. If you got an opportunity to play for Australia or go to a mates wedding what are you doing?
“I’m filthy about this.”
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Braith Anasta joined the show and was asked for his thoughts.
“I agree," he said. "There’s two sides. All of us would die for an Aussie jersey, I don’t know if that’s changed over the years.
"Maybe the workload now combined with Origin, even though that shouldn’t matter, I would say that’s a reason for it.
"A lot of them get paid so much now to pay for Origin and they get half that for Australia. But look at the Ryder Cup, that doesn’t even come into it.
"I don’t get it either. There’s just so many ways around it. People come up with injuries or something else. But its become a problem."
