
If you’re wondering what was going through Mat Rogers’ head during the filming of Australian Survivor’s ‘biggest blindside in history’ episode last night, two words definitely sum it up:
“Oh sh*t.”
The former NRL player andSurvivorpowerhouse’s dramatic exit at the hands of Benji shocked viewers and had Twitter abuzz with opinions.
GIVE THE TITLE OF SOLE SURVIVOR TO BENJI AND BE DONE WITH IT. HE’S PLAYING A GAMES OF CHESS AGAINST A BUNCH OF MOUSE TRAP MICE AND THE SHOE FROM MONOPOLY #SurvivorAU
— Matt Tarrant (@MattTarrant) September 17, 2018
HOW did Mat not play the idol after that clustereff?!?!
If Sharn’s initial decision wasn’t enough proof that something was in the air, then surely Benji’s insistence was proof he wasn’t working with you at all?
HOW? HOW? HOW? HOW? HOW? #SurvivorAU pic.twitter.com/2We1X32UTH
— Nick Iadanza (@nickiadanza) September 17, 2018
Even Osher weighed in:
Holy
Fuxkin
Shit. #SurvivorAU
— Osher Günsberg (@oshergunsberg) September 17, 2018
If you didn’t catch the spicy ep, here’s what went down:
Mat, who was a fan favourite and considered a front-runner for sole survivor, was voted out by the majority of contestants in a conniving yet brilliant move orchestrated by resident snake Benji.
But it wasn’t without its controversy, with a jaw-dropping immunity idol play by Sharn, who had attempted to save Mat before Benji butt in and convinced her to play the idol forherself.

How did you...do that?
"I remember sitting there and Benji sort of piping up to tell Sharn not to play the idol for me, and I remember thinking 'what's going on' and trying to compute in my head, then all I remember is watching the names read out and I was like: 'Oh shit...' then it was all over," Mat toldMamamia.
You see, earlier in the episode, while Benji worked his magic convincing Brian and Monika to turn on Mat, Sharn had found herself a hidden immunity idol.
...Until it fell out of her pants during a challenge.
So, to ensure his bid to eliminate Mat was executed perfectly, Benji convinced Sharn to use the idol on herself because she may have 'a target on her back'.
Speaking toMamamia, Mat said the reason he didn't use hisownhidden immunity idol to save himself as the controversy unfolded around the campfire was because he "couldn't compute what was going on." Which is... fair enough - it was quite a complex plan.

"What is...happening?"
"Sharn knew they were going to vote for me and she didn't tell me, so she obviously got there and thought 'well, I'm gonna play this idol for Mat because I know they're coming to get him' but I didn't know that, and she didn't know I had an idol myself... It was a tricky one."
"What makes it harder than what it looks is that you're tired, you're hungry, you're not using your mind as well as you may when you're fed and well-rested, you're just trying to get to the next point," he added.
While viewers took to Twitter to praise Benji's mastermind, labelling his attack on Mat "one of the most villainous moves inSurvivorhistory", some were confused by how he was actually allowed to get away with talking during tribal council when not addressed - which is usuallyforbidden.
#SurvivorAU surely you’re not allowed to talk someone down from their decision once a hidden idol has been played and they’ve stated their decision?
— Josiah Shala (@JosiahShala) September 17, 2018
"To a degree [I think it was unfair], I mean there's probably merit in what people are saying because I didn't think anyone was allowed to talk... but it happened, you're not gonna change it. It's like a referee blows a penalty - you can argue but the penalty is staying," Mat said.
What a good sport.
Overall, Mat has no regrets whatsoever, saying he went into the show "completely as [himself]".
His good-guy attitude just makes us evenmoreupset that he's left the show.
Who do you want to winAustralian Survivor? Tell us in the comments.
Bella Fowler
News Writer
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