Mat Rogers emerged from two months of personal torment to end NSW's search for a world-class flyhalf as the Waratahs cruised back into the Super 14 top four with a convincing 31-16 win over the Sharks.

In his first match since the tragic death of his father Steve in January, Rogers needed just half an hour to convince coach Ewen McKenzie he was the answer to the Waratahs' perennial No.10 problems.

The dual international received a warm applause from the 25,619-strong Aussie Stadium crowd, on deck for the Waratahs' first home game of the season, when he was injected into the fray in the 50th minute - and he immediately showed he wasn't in the mood to disappoint.

Rogers sliced through the defence with his very first touch of the ball and then put man-of-the-match Peter Hewat over the line with his second touch only for the winger to be called back for an accidental offside.

Rogers' deft touches created two more opportunities for teammates before he helped sealed the deal for the Waratahs when he combined with Hewat and fellow winger Lote Tuqiri to send replacement flanker Stephen Hoiles in for NSW's third try in the 70th minute.

McKenzie said Rogers left no doubt to anyone watching the game that he was back and ready to handle the playmaker's role for the 2005 finalists.

"I think he'd be capable of playing 80 minutes," McKenzie said.

"We didn't have much time with him during the week, so the reality was putting him in at (number) 10 there were some structural issues that if we played that way again we'd rejig a few things.

"I think he could probably start but whether he'd get through 80 minutes, I don't know. But it's not really about the 80 minutes. It's about whether they're ready to start physically and mentally and he's shown that he's certainly back.

"His poise around the place has been excellent this week. I've really noticed. It's probably the best I've seen him mentally for a long time."

Physically, Rogers had an obvious impact, igniting the Waratahs backline as soon as he took the field to replace rookie pivot Daniel Halangahu.

"He's got genuine speed there off the mark. You saw that straight away. Whether there was an emotional aspect there with the team, I don't know, but he certainly didn't do us any harm," McKenzie said.

Skipper Chris Whitaker said he was chuffed to see Rogers back in the thick of it.

"He's the type of guy everybody loves to play with because he loves his rugby and I suppose it rubs off on everyone. Everybody gets excited when he's around," Whitaker said.

The Waratahs were expected to struggle in the absence of suspended trio Wendell Sailor, Rocky Elsom and Matt Dunning and backing up just five days after returning from South Africa and indeed the Sharks dominated the opening 10 minutes, camping themselves in NSW territory.

The Sharks converted their early pressure into a 3-0 lead through a penalty goal to fullback Percy Montgomery before the Waratahs slowly began to take control.

The NSW pack was winning the battles at the breakdown and frustrating the Sharks pack into misdemeanours and Hewat was only too happy to punish the South Africans.

The 2005 leading point scorer was on target with four penalty goals and the conversion of Shaun Berne's 18th-minute try to give the Waratahs a 19-3 advantage at the break.

The Sharks narrowed the deficit to 10 points with two penalty goals to halfback Ruan Pienaar in the opening minutes of the second stanza, but the Waratahs were in no mood to let slip their first halftime lead of the season.

When Tuqiri snapped his 10-match try drought in the 58th minute, after a brilliant chip and regather from Hewat, the Waratahs were home and hosed at 26-9 to the good and not even an intercept try to Montgomery off a mistimed Rogers pass could spoil the party.

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