Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says he is prepared to offer disgraced Western Force scrumhalf Matt Henjak a chance to resurrect his career in England, reports said Thursday.
ones, soon to become director of rugby at English club Saracens, said he supported the ruling of the Rugby WA’s conduct committee that Henjak should be sacked for attacking teammate Haig Sare at a Perth bar earlier this month.But Jones said he would be willing to take Henjak, who earned four national caps during his time as Wallabies’ coach, should the 26-year-old scrumhalf be eligible to play in Europe.
Jones, who sent Henjak home from the Wallabies’ 2005 tour of South Africa after an off-field disciplinary issue, said he was ready to give the troubled player another chance.
“I would give him another chance if the circumstances were right, no hesitation,” Jones told Thursday’s <I>Sydney Morning Herald</I>.
“He deserves the punishment but still deserves to have a future as a footballer.”
Jones said he knew Henjak had a problem with alcohol, which led to his becoming the first Wallaby in 40 years to be sent home from a tour after a nightclub incident in Cape Town three years ago.
But he said he felt Henjak had then “turned the corner” and so selected him for the end-of-season Wallabies tour the same year.
“Matt is essentially a good kid. But it is true, there have been a number of alcohol-related incidents,” Jones said.
“And I did sense that he had an issue then [in 2005]. We sought to address the problem. He came on the Wallabies tour later that year and played well, especially against Ireland.
“We thought he had turned the corner. But it seems now that the corner was just too far away.”
Jones has urged the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) not to abandon Henjak.
Henjak may know this week whether his time in Australian rugby is officially up with the ARU to decide his fate.
The ARU said it is going through the transcript from the conduct committee’s hearing, which recommended that the Western Force scrumhalf be sacked because of his attack on Sare, which left the utility back with a broken jaw.
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What a waste of a good player. What is wrong with these guys?
Run Henjak run, Eddie the legend is calling… 😈
“We thought he had turned the corner. But it seems now that the corner was just too far away.”
Sounds like the Stormers
Rob,
Ignorance of warning signs on their way… 😯
RD – 😈
Big fan of his, but dammit,how much chances are you going to throw away.
PJLD,
So you do have a liking for the Sharks… 😆
Well i like them more than i like the bulls.
PJLD,
Good stuff, who actually like bulls…Fat, clumpsy, stupid & to top it all arrogant… 😯
Prov – my thoughts exactly!
Jip, great minds think alike… 😎
Nessa,
I see you stick to “Prov” rather then “PJLK” 😳
hehehe howsit nessa 😎
Charlie – I thought you were my friend!!! Was hoping nobody would notice. 😳
True friends differ…
PJLD,
How about the nickname “paddaboutjies” for Freddie Michalak
Charlie – he has a very cute butt!
padda for short!
Eish, what have I started now… 🙄
Sheesh, Henjak has a history of drink related incidents and now he is being offered a position in the land of “local” and with the tradition of “fit as many in as possible before 11”. 🙄
just hope to God he doesn’t come and live in Kent…
Rob,
Perhaps a buddy to “dop” with… 🙄
He really has pushed his luck, Cameron Shepard was much the same but it seemed he sucked it up and turned it around. Henjack is a good player, but the amount of damage he has done to his name is mind boggling – i am not surprised by the cancellation of his contract !
😆
Freddie ” Padda” Michalak
Not as catchy as Beeeeeaaaast!
I don’t want to dop with him… he’ll punch me in the head the moment I let my guard down!
Hey Robbie,
Check your mail dude.
Vin – 10 points for enthusiasm, dude 😉