Mat Rogers admits 2011 can't get much worse for Gold Coast but has vowed to instigate the soul searching needed to lead the NRL club out of its disastrous hole.

Coaxed out of a nine-month retirement, dual international Rogers discovered first-hand the sharp decline the last-placed Titans have suffered since their preliminary finals exit last year.

Back then, they were serious contenders but after Friday night's 22-6 defeat to the Warriors, the NRL's wooden spoon is fast becoming a reality.

"There's only one way to go from here," Rogers, 35, said after his 200th first-grade match.

"It can't get any worse.

"We all end up in the valley at some stage. As long as you keep walking you get through it.

"We don't want to be limping to the end of the season licking our wounds. It's time to hit things into action."

After four years with the Titans, Rogers acknowledged watching this year's capitulation, which has yielded 12 losses and four wins, had been difficult.

He said he had no hesitation answering an 11th hour plea from coach John Cartwright and feels empathy with fans struggling for answers.

"It's been tough after what we went through last year. We got so close," he said of the fourth-place finish.

"That's the challenge for the boys.

"What are we doing different? That's the hole were in at the moment. Have things changed that much?

"There's a lot of soul searching at times like this, but this is time for growth.

"You don't grow when things are going good; you grow when things are painful. All the players are going to be better when we come through this."

Critics have jumped on Rogers return, suggesting it's a slap in the face to young up-and-coming talent on the coast.

But Cartwright was quick to point out despite minimal preparation Rogers valuable experienced had allowed a seamless comeback.

"Matt wasn't brought back to go out and win us football games," Cartwright quipped.

"The fact he put himself out there to do what he did was enough for me.

"I was really happy with what he brought to the squad this week."

Rogers felt he hadn't lost anything during a 50-minute stint off the bench in Auckland.

His rekindled combination in the halves with skipper Scott Prince looked promising in patches and with Preston Campbell still to return, the clubs target of five wins from their last eight matches is not out of the realms of possibility.

"It's not about me being on the filed, it's about this team and what we can get out of this last couple of months," Rogers said.

"This isn't a club that's going to write off a season. This is a club that needs to win football games.

"We've got eight weeks to go and we need to turn things around.

"We're far from thinking next year, we're thinking Broncos next Friday night."

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