Oracle of Delphi
KC Hill
Denise Gabbard
Paladin
Craig HillMatt Henjak: Western Force's Sith Lord - Darth Brawl
February 22nd 2008 23:00
Sportsfans have probably heard all about the trials and tribulations of Western Force halfback Matt Henjak aka Sith Lord Darth Brawl.
Matt Henjak talks to the media, after being voted off the Sportsmen Behaving Badly series of 'Survivor: Punch Drunk Island' (Halfwit. Dirtyplay. Knockout.)
Henjak: "...and then Jeff said to me 'Matt, the Tribunal has spoken'... and as I was leaving the island, Darth Sidious appeared from nowhere and told me that my journey to the Dark Side is complete..."
******************************
Matt Henjak is a talented Rugby player who at one stage was touted as the Successor to Gregan's halfback throne...and a major thorn in friend Matt Giteau's rosy #9 future.
Henjak was educated at St Edmund's College in Canberra, the same school as Matt Giteau and George Gregan.
In 2001 and 2002 Henjak represented Australia in the under-21 side, as well as later playing for Australia A. He made his Super 12 debut in 2003, playing for the ACT Brumbies.
Henjak made his international debut (as a Wallaby) in 2004, after being called up to the squad when Elton Flatley broke his arm. His first match was against England (in June)where he came off the bench onto the wing with 10 minutes remaining in the game, after Clyde Rathbone was injured.
Seeing no future for himself (where would he 'fit' in a squad that had too many contenders?)...and possibly because his propensity for drunken violence was already known so England was a logical choice
... Henjak went over to England for the latter part of 2004, having a short term stint with Harlequin F.C..
He was signed to the (new) Australian Super 14 team, the Western Force in '05 and this was his chance to show what he could do at #9. Giteau also had moved to the Force but had settled in at #10.
In terms of Rugby selection, this was a good move by both players as they could finally ruck their stuff without the omnipotence of the Great Gods of Rugby -Gregan and Larkham- overshadowing them.
However I will never forgive Giteau for leaving the Brumbies for his 'Jerry Maguire' moment.
So, for those who don't know...what has Henjak done? How has he given into the Dark side? What has been the final straw? Why has his consistently heinous behaviour been covered up? And what's with the stupid haircut?
Henjak's breached the noble code of conduct that the ARU conducts its noble code by and it has been decided by a tribunal that Henjak should have his Western Force Super 14 contract terminated. The deed has been done.
Henjak has a history of alcohol related scandalous behaviour starting with the time he wrestled with his first lawnmower instead of going to the barbers.
In 2004 he was involved in an alleged nightclub 'altercation' in South Africa, in which the 'victim' was secretly paid A$16,000 to drop assult charges.
This was so Henjak could continue playing Super 14 matches in South Africa. More about this later.
In 2005, Henjak wrote his name in the histrionic books, becoming the first Wallaby in 40 years to be sent home whilst on tour.
Then Wallabies Coach Eddie Jones sent him packing from South Africa for a nightclub brawl that involved Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor and Matt Dunning.
Henjak who admitted to throwing ice at patrons in a Cape Town nightclub, received a two-year, two-match suspended sentence and a AU$500 fine.
Tuqiri and Sailor were given a raise. Dunning was given a lifetime pass to Macdonald's.
Sailor and Tuqiri were allowed to stay with the squad but were also given suspended sentences and fined $500, Dunning received the same fine. Truth is these guys tried to stop Henjak from behaving like Lindsay Lohan on a good day but then Henjak turned on them.
It has recently been revealed that there was another incident involving Henjak that had never been made public.
Henjak is alleged to have been involved in an incident in which a Liam O'Meara, son of the former Western Force Chief Executive Peter O'Meara (who resigned on January 18) was injured at a 2006 Christmas party.
Apparently O'Meara snr had wanted to tear up Henjak's contract after the alleged incident but didn't after his son, who was then an employee of Rugby WA, asked him not to.
Another rumored incident alleges that Henjak 'offended' a woman but this was supposedly dealt with internally by his club.
I do not want to take away from the truth of what may have happened in the above instance but I have seen first hand how 'certain types' of females behave with Rugby 'stars'. Henjak does have a girlfriend and he may have, in no uncertain terms told this woman where to go and she decided to take 'revenge'.
Then again, Henjak could have acted like a total pig and in that case, the woman could have deflated his Rugby balls by kicking him where it hurts. His ego. And he immediately suffered an identity crisis..."don't you know who I am?..."
Psst. On the quiet here people. I have read and heard that essentially, Henjak is a "nice kid...just misguided" but I have also been told by someone who used to play Rugby with Henjak that Henjak is and I quote "a little bitch" and "f**ken foulmouthed"....and yes, the last bit was said with a straight face.
Don't tell anyone I told you because my source was also strong with the Force. Besides...at the time of telling, I did think that this volunteered information stemmed from a case of bottled green stuff. Unspoken Jealousy not Absinthe.
The latest incident is the straw that broke the half back.
A drinking session at Perth’s Fremantle Hotel, involving half a dozen Force players resulted in a violent 'altercation' between Force Winger Haig Sare and Henjak, leaving Sare with a broken jaw.
It was found that Henjak "savagely punched Haig Sare when Sare was sitting down vulnerable and unable to defend himself". Sare had to have surgery in a Perth hospital on Monday 18/02 to wire his jaw back together.
Sare received an eight-week ban and A$5,000 fine for his part in the brawl.
After a RugbyWA Conduct Committee recommended Henjak's dismissal (earlier this week), Henjak has been sacked by RugbyWA and the decision has been supported by the Australian Rugby Union.
ARU CEO and windbag, John ONeill said;
I cannot believe the hypocrisy of the Idiot O'Neill. Henjak's "poor behaviour" has been tolerated for years...and do not start me on how tolerated Drunken Sailor was and Lotta Tequila is.
According to latest media reports, 3 European clubs are interested in hiring Henjak, with former Wallabies Coach, Eddie Jones also throwing a life-line (see next post).
NRL teams have also expressed their interest. (also see next post).
The 26-year-old Henjak, has said that he was "bitterly disappointed'' by RugbyWA's decision.
...because what? He expected a pat on the back and perhaps a bonus?
Sorry kid. Hate to agree with anything O'Neill says but it is a privilege to play Rugby at a professional level and you've squandered it.
I forgave Henjak for hitting Tuqiri, Sailor and Dunning...in fact I wanted to send him flowers but...now? His behaviour?...Britney Spears looks more in control in comparison.
image courtesy of RugbyHeaven
********************
Apologies for the length of this post but this is a lengthy issue.
If you would like to make a comment on this post then please go to My Profile page (link provided) and send me a Personal Message and I will 'open' the Comments Section.
Once 'opened' say what you will but I cannot guarantee that I will respond quickly (this is why I have disabled the Comments Section in the first place - I'm a tempus fugitive), so Thank You for your patience.
Matt Henjak talks to the media, after being voted off the Sportsmen Behaving Badly series of 'Survivor: Punch Drunk Island' (Halfwit. Dirtyplay. Knockout.)
Henjak: "...and then Jeff said to me 'Matt, the Tribunal has spoken'... and as I was leaving the island, Darth Sidious appeared from nowhere and told me that my journey to the Dark Side is complete..."
******************************
Matt Henjak is a talented Rugby player who at one stage was touted as the Successor to Gregan's halfback throne...and a major thorn in friend Matt Giteau's rosy #9 future.
Henjak was educated at St Edmund's College in Canberra, the same school as Matt Giteau and George Gregan.
In 2001 and 2002 Henjak represented Australia in the under-21 side, as well as later playing for Australia A. He made his Super 12 debut in 2003, playing for the ACT Brumbies.
Henjak made his international debut (as a Wallaby) in 2004, after being called up to the squad when Elton Flatley broke his arm. His first match was against England (in June)where he came off the bench onto the wing with 10 minutes remaining in the game, after Clyde Rathbone was injured.
Seeing no future for himself (where would he 'fit' in a squad that had too many contenders?)...and possibly because his propensity for drunken violence was already known so England was a logical choice
... Henjak went over to England for the latter part of 2004, having a short term stint with Harlequin F.C.. He was signed to the (new) Australian Super 14 team, the Western Force in '05 and this was his chance to show what he could do at #9. Giteau also had moved to the Force but had settled in at #10.
In terms of Rugby selection, this was a good move by both players as they could finally ruck their stuff without the omnipotence of the Great Gods of Rugby -Gregan and Larkham- overshadowing them.
However I will never forgive Giteau for leaving the Brumbies for his 'Jerry Maguire' moment.
So, for those who don't know...what has Henjak done? How has he given into the Dark side? What has been the final straw? Why has his consistently heinous behaviour been covered up? And what's with the stupid haircut?
Henjak's breached the noble code of conduct that the ARU conducts its noble code by and it has been decided by a tribunal that Henjak should have his Western Force Super 14 contract terminated. The deed has been done.
Henjak has a history of alcohol related scandalous behaviour starting with the time he wrestled with his first lawnmower instead of going to the barbers.
In 2004 he was involved in an alleged nightclub 'altercation' in South Africa, in which the 'victim' was secretly paid A$16,000 to drop assult charges.
This was so Henjak could continue playing Super 14 matches in South Africa. More about this later.
In 2005, Henjak wrote his name in the histrionic books, becoming the first Wallaby in 40 years to be sent home whilst on tour.
Then Wallabies Coach Eddie Jones sent him packing from South Africa for a nightclub brawl that involved Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor and Matt Dunning.
Henjak who admitted to throwing ice at patrons in a Cape Town nightclub, received a two-year, two-match suspended sentence and a AU$500 fine.
Tuqiri and Sailor were given a raise. Dunning was given a lifetime pass to Macdonald's.
Sailor and Tuqiri were allowed to stay with the squad but were also given suspended sentences and fined $500, Dunning received the same fine. Truth is these guys tried to stop Henjak from behaving like Lindsay Lohan on a good day but then Henjak turned on them.
It has recently been revealed that there was another incident involving Henjak that had never been made public.
Henjak is alleged to have been involved in an incident in which a Liam O'Meara, son of the former Western Force Chief Executive Peter O'Meara (who resigned on January 18) was injured at a 2006 Christmas party.
Apparently O'Meara snr had wanted to tear up Henjak's contract after the alleged incident but didn't after his son, who was then an employee of Rugby WA, asked him not to.
Another rumored incident alleges that Henjak 'offended' a woman but this was supposedly dealt with internally by his club.
I do not want to take away from the truth of what may have happened in the above instance but I have seen first hand how 'certain types' of females behave with Rugby 'stars'. Henjak does have a girlfriend and he may have, in no uncertain terms told this woman where to go and she decided to take 'revenge'.
Then again, Henjak could have acted like a total pig and in that case, the woman could have deflated his Rugby balls by kicking him where it hurts. His ego. And he immediately suffered an identity crisis..."don't you know who I am?..."
Psst. On the quiet here people. I have read and heard that essentially, Henjak is a "nice kid...just misguided" but I have also been told by someone who used to play Rugby with Henjak that Henjak is and I quote "a little bitch" and "f**ken foulmouthed"....and yes, the last bit was said with a straight face.
Don't tell anyone I told you because my source was also strong with the Force. Besides...at the time of telling, I did think that this volunteered information stemmed from a case of bottled green stuff. Unspoken Jealousy not Absinthe.
The latest incident is the straw that broke the half back.
A drinking session at Perth’s Fremantle Hotel, involving half a dozen Force players resulted in a violent 'altercation' between Force Winger Haig Sare and Henjak, leaving Sare with a broken jaw.
It was found that Henjak "savagely punched Haig Sare when Sare was sitting down vulnerable and unable to defend himself". Sare had to have surgery in a Perth hospital on Monday 18/02 to wire his jaw back together.
Sare received an eight-week ban and A$5,000 fine for his part in the brawl.
After a RugbyWA Conduct Committee recommended Henjak's dismissal (earlier this week), Henjak has been sacked by RugbyWA and the decision has been supported by the Australian Rugby Union.
ARU CEO and windbag, John ONeill said;
The findings and recommendation were clear and well- informed. We are satisfied with this outcome.
He added;Poor behaviour, and particularly when it relates to serial offenders, will not be tolerated. It is a privilege, not a right, to play the game at the professional level
I cannot believe the hypocrisy of the Idiot O'Neill. Henjak's "poor behaviour" has been tolerated for years...and do not start me on how tolerated Drunken Sailor was and Lotta Tequila is.
According to latest media reports, 3 European clubs are interested in hiring Henjak, with former Wallabies Coach, Eddie Jones also throwing a life-line (see next post).
NRL teams have also expressed their interest. (also see next post).
The 26-year-old Henjak, has said that he was "bitterly disappointed'' by RugbyWA's decision.
...because what? He expected a pat on the back and perhaps a bonus?
Sorry kid. Hate to agree with anything O'Neill says but it is a privilege to play Rugby at a professional level and you've squandered it.
I forgave Henjak for hitting Tuqiri, Sailor and Dunning...in fact I wanted to send him flowers but...now? His behaviour?...Britney Spears looks more in control in comparison.
image courtesy of RugbyHeaven
********************
Apologies for the length of this post but this is a lengthy issue.
If you would like to make a comment on this post then please go to My Profile page (link provided) and send me a Personal Message and I will 'open' the Comments Section.
Once 'opened' say what you will but I cannot guarantee that I will respond quickly (this is why I have disabled the Comments Section in the first place - I'm a tempus fugitive), so Thank You for your patience.
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