Henjak back on the playing field
Matt Henjak: Rebuilding his reputation
Less than three months after his Super 14 career crashed down around him, Matt Henjak has started rebuilding his reputation on the fields of his former home town.
Henjak made a surprise appearance in the starting team for ACT Premier Division club Royals last weekend, almost three months after the Western Force tore up his contract because of an assault on team-mate Haig Sare.
Having secured a playing transfer from Rugby Western Australia (Rugby WA) to the Australian Capital Territories (ACT) Rugby Union last week, Henjak is using the Canberra competition to keep fit while his manager seeks a new professional contract for him in Europe.
Henjak has also taken on a role as training mentor to Royals' young backline players, including Brumbies Academy scrum-half Brent Hamlin.
Royals coach Frank Condi said the former Wallabies scrum-half was a welcome guest at last year's semi-finalist club, even if he had an inglorious return to the field in a 54-0 loss to Queanbeyan on Saturday.
"When anyone comes down from Super 14 level, you can see the other guys want to take notice of them. The guys love having him down there at training and at games," Condi told the Canberra Times.
"He'll be teaching some of our young half-backs, spending time with them at training and giving them pointers, so he's having a coaching role here as well."
In the aftermath of his sacking, the Brumbies joined the Waratahs and Reds in ruling out a Super 14 lifeline to Henjak.
The Brumbies have scrum-halves Patrick Phibbs and Josh Holmes on contract for next season, leaving no place for him.
Henjak's altercation with Sare at a Perth pub was the last in a series of off-field indiscretions which crippled the ambitions of a player once tipped to succeed George Gregan as Australia's long-term number nine.
While his Wallabies career looks all-but dead after four Tests, 26-year-old Henjak could still enjoy a long and lucrative stint in European club rugby.
It is understood his manager is considering options in Italy and France. Henjak could potentially leave Australia in as few as three or four weeks.
Until then, Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan said the Canberra competition would benefit from having him in its ranks. He added the former Brumby would still be a welcome visitor at the club's Griffith headquarters.
"My position is one of absolute support for Matt being here playing," said Fagan.
"Any role we can play to help him further his rugby career we will do. Anything that's in our power, we'll look to support him with. I think that's an obligation we're happy to take on board.
"He's not under suspension, it's not a contracted position, so as far as I'm concerned it's just something that would bring tremendous value and profile to local rugby and help develop the guys around him at Royals."
Henjak's former Brumbies team-mate Jeremy Paul had a similar stint with Royals last year while he waited to join English club Gloucester.