Former NRL great Mat Rogers opens up on the devastating disease that left him fearing for his life

Former NRL great Mat Rogers thought he was ‘going to die’ as an autoimmune disease left his body in crippling pain and feared he might have to say goodbye to his family.

The 46-year-old began suffering from seronegative inflammatory arthritis earlier this year.

The condition, also known as spondyloarthritis, is a joint disease of the spine whose symptoms include pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, fever, and low appetite.

While the symptoms are similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis, the way the two conditions affect the body varies widely.

While rheumatoid arthritis generally affects small joints such as the hands and feet, spondyloarthritis is more likely to start in the lower back or shoulders.

Speaking for the release of his new book, “A Father’s Son,” Rogers recalled how a minor shoulder problem quickly turned into excruciating pain.

‘I thought I was going to die. I literally got a condition where my immune system started attacking my joints and I was like an old man,” the former dual-code star told the courier post.

The double-code star won 45 caps for the Wallabies over a five-year stint in Rugby Union

Rogers played 12 seasons in the NRL with Cronulla and the Gold Coast Titans (above)

Rogers (left) was involved with former Wallabies teammate Lote Tuqiri (right) last year in promoting Australia’s 2027 Rugby World Cup bid

“It started quite mildly in my shoulder and then it riddled my body. I thought this was it, I thought I had some kind of blood cancer.”

The former dual-code star, who played 12 seasons together with Cronulla and the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL and five seasons with the New South Wales Waratahs in rugby union, feared he would leave his five children and wife prematurely.

“It was definitely a really quiet time of reflection when I went through that with my kids,” said Rogers, who won 11 caps for the Kangaroos and 45 for the Wallabies.

“My mom was my age when she died and considering what it was doing to us, I was really worried.”

In his book, Rogers also delves into his relationship with his late father, Steve. Former Cronulla Great and Kangaroos Captain Died in 2006

In the book, Rogers also talks about his relationship with his late father, Cronulla great and former Kangaroos captain Steve Rogers, who died in 2006.

“I didn’t have an easy childhood, and to be honest, I’ve always hated that,” he said.

“It was the way my father’s relationship with me was, it was tough. As a kid, it was hard to get Dad’s approval or say I’m proud of you.