Injury no longer a pain in the neck for Rogers
AAP | Thursday, 06 December 2007
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4314248a1823.html
Gold Coast centre Mat Rogers says he would have paid double the $A30,000 ($NZ34,700) it cost for recent neck surgery that has left him pain-free for the first time in five years.
Rogers was forced to foot the bill for the November 16 operation to replace a bulging disc in his neck with a steel prosthesis, despite
(allegedly) suffering the injury in his first game of professional rugby in 2002.
The dual international is seeking compensation from the Australian Rugby Union but they're refusing to pay for the operation,
(because they have lawyers and brains) which wasn't covered by Rogers' health fund.
Asked whether he held much hope of recovering the $A30,000 from the ARU, Rogers replied: "I don't know mate. You can give them a call for me.
(No friggin chance, do you think they will listen to you?)"
At least the controversial issue of compensation is secondary to the joy of being free of pain and discomfort in the neck heading into the 2008 NRL season.
(Unfortunately, the doctor could do nothing about his low IQ)
"I said to the doctor this morning if I knew how I was going to feel I would've
[Should've] paid double (for the operation). It was worth every cent," Rogers remarked at a One Community charity Christmas party at WhiteWater World on the Gold Coast yesterday.
"The neck is still a little bit sore but you'd expect that. The neural and nerve pain has all gone."
(yes that's right, BOTH the neural and the Nerve pain)
"I'm so glad I got it done. I'm looking forward to playing some good footy
(for a change) now."
Rogers, bearing a scar on the front of his neck from where the surgeon made his incision, believes he's lucky
(but we're not) his career was not ruined by the injury.