Cleary? Not Even Close!” – Aussie legend Mat Rogers just dropped a BOMBSHELL: Eric Newbigging  is the REAL Kangaroos No.7!’ 😱🇦🇺 💬 “He’s got the control, the confidence, and the clutch factor Cleary doesn’t right now.” — Rogers

It appears the claim that Mat Rogers has declared Eric Newbigging as the “REAL” Kangaroos No. 7 is unverified — I could not find credible evidence supporting that statement. Meanwhile, Rogers has made bold commentary on the half-back position, but with different players.

Here’s a breakdown of what is known, what is not substantiated, and the broader context of the debate.

• Mat Rogers is a well-known former Australian dual‐code international (league and union).
• He has made media comments about the importance of representative rugby league and the value of the Australian jersey.
• There is an ongoing debate within Australian rugby league around who should wear the Kangaroos’ No. 7 jersey (the half-back role) — often involving players like Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses. For example, one article claimed Rogers declared Moses the better choice than Cleary.
• I found no credible source (news website, interview transcript, or official statement) verifying that Rogers said: “Eric Newbigging is the REAL Kangaroos No. 7” and “He’s got the control, the confidence, and the clutch factor Cleary doesn’t right now.”
• There is no clear record of a player named Eric Newbigging being in serious contention for the Kangaroos No. 7 jersey at the national level (at least in widely reported media).
• The quote you provided appears either mis‐attributed, fabricated, or part of an unverified social media claim.

Why the confusion might exist

• The half-back (No. 7) spot for the Kangaroos is a hot topic: fans and media frequently compare Cleary, Moses, and others, discussing attributes like game control, kicking, decision-making, and composure under pressure.
• Rogers is known for being outspoken — so when he issues a verdict it tends to generate attention.
• It’s possible the quote has been paraphrased, taken out of context, or entirely fabricated for click-bait. Without source verification, it must be treated with caution.

What would need to happen to validate it

To treat the claim as legitimate, one would need:

1. A reliable media outlet (TV, radio, major newspaper) quoting Rogers saying exactly the lines you provided.
2. Verification that Eric Newbigging is a credible candidate for the Kangaroos No. 7 spot — documented by credible sport media.
3. Context for when and where Rogers made the statement (interview date, show, publication) to trace its authenticity.

Based on the available evidence:

• The specific claim you asked about — Rogers saying “Eric Newbigging is the REAL Kangaroos No. 7!” with that quote — cannot be substantiated at this time.
• That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but without verifiable sources it remains rumour or mis-reporting.
• The broader context — Rogers discussing No. 7 selection and comparing players like Cleary and Moses — is real and well-documented.If you like, I can try to dig deeper (archival interviews, radio transcripts, social media) to see if there’s any trace of that exact quote or the mention of Newbigging — would you like me to do that?