The Henjak/Sare Saga

[James]

True I suppose Laura, but if Giteau goes where is he going to go? I don't think he'd go back to Canberra. They can't offer as much money as we can and the truth is over the next few years I seriously believe the Brumbies will start to struggle. Reds? Maybe. I don't see why he would though. Waratahs? Only if they are winning.

In Perth he is a captain to be, his pay will be matched with whatever anyone else can offer. I got the impression his girlfriend is originally from Perth. Plus you'd think having to change setting and houses and clubs and this and that would be a fair bit of hassle. I would have also thought he'd have made a few friends out of players like Shep and Drew which means something. I am quitely confident he'll stay regardless of what happens to Henjak. I think that the Western Force management will do what they can to be fair/kind to Henjak for the sake of staying in Giteau's good books too.

[GIGS20]

Maybe he'll join the army to learn some discipline hey Chook? The only hairdresser he'll need is the old number 1. Bzzzzzzzz.

Doesn't AJ do Matt's hair?

[GIGS20]

True I suppose Laura, but if Giteau goes where is he going to go? I don't think he'd go back to Canberra. They can't offer as much money as we can and the truth is over the next few years I seriously believe the Brumbies will start to struggle. Reds? Maybe. I don't see why he would though. Waratahs? Only if they are winning.

In Perth he is a captain to be, his pay will be matched with whatever anyone else can offer. I got the impression his girlfriend is originally from Perth. Plus you'd think having to change setting and houses and clubs and this and that would be a fair bit of hassle. I would have also thought he'd have made a few friends out of players like Shep and Drew which means something. I am quitely confident he'll stay regardless of what happens to Henjak. I think that the Western Force management will do what they can to be fair/kind to Henjak for the sake of staying in Giteau's good books too.

Gits seems like a pretty good egg. His girlfriend is in Perth for the long haul since the AIS netball program now seems to be based here, and he's easily the number on back here. More telling then is the fact that he's number two in line for the captaincy.....he's earned that here. For another club to get him, he'd need to be named captain immediately, (his dreams of Wallaby captaincy are part of the plan IMHO) and that would be a big call. Brumbies have several key players who would be ahead of him in the captaincy stakes, and there would be the possibility of bad blood after a contract away from the club.....probably a hard ask...Reds, they probably don't have a huge number of captains-in-waiting with Latho off but their program is still shaky and a brand new coach wouldn't help their chances...the Waratahs wouldn't be any better than the brumbies with the captaincy role...there'd be a line a mile long for the next captain, and you'd better belive internal politics will be killer if he steps into that ring as captain....Nope, I see :Force: as his best gamble for a claim to be Wallabies captain in the next World Cup......he's on the leadership roster, he'll captain the team in Sharpie's absence, they are undoubtedly going to be the best performed Australian franchise over the next four seasons, and his win-loss record in the times he gets to captain them will be a factor!.....He'll have to make up for the fact that he's started with a loss though!

[BLR]

I don't think Giteau would leave for the Tahs, I mean, there is a bit of bad blood b/w the Tahs and the Brumbies aren't there? So he would have got that instilled in him...

But if he does leave hopefully the Force fans won't chuck a hissy fit like when Judd left....whinging Weagles...

[Jehna]

JEHNA IS A MAN??

Yeah apparently so

was there a punch up at JB's?!? Or am I completely not getting a subtle, insiders joke?

Yeah I missed it too Jess....I only saw the tail end of Anti running out the door..

no post fight pics are available of haig yet

They won't become available unless some reporter breaks into his house...the hospital can't release them.

Anti - I understand where you are coming from. I am just as frustrated as you that our boys have landed themselves on the front cover of the paper for another off field indiscretion. But you have to put things in perspective. Firstly, acknowledge as time and time again has proved, that the media simply just loves a story. They are not there to provide the truth. They are not there to give a fair trial. They are not there to provide justice. They are there to grab onto any tail wind of a rumour or incident and make it into an interesting and scandalous story with the sole purpose of attracting readers, selling papers and making money. Look at the facts here. 1. There was a punch up involving Henjak and Sare. 2. Henjak has a mutilated face. 3. Sare has a broken jaw. Who started it? Who's fault is it? We don't know. But from the media's perspective, lets make it Henjak because he has a bad track record. Lets make it Henjak because he is far easier to exploit and it will create the most controversy and therefore sell more papers.

Secondly, from my perspective, you have to have faith that the system will deal with this appropriately. The decision to let Henjak play in South Africa to me reflects the principles of natural justice upon which the code of conduct, the law, and our value system are all based upon. I'm not going to deny that there was probably a degree of 'oh shit we need Henjak because he's a damn good player' involved there but at the same time, i do not think that such thoughts override the concept of a fair trial and the principal belief that all should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Henjak has been brought back to Perth. He will face the tribunal and his fate will be decided. I will accept whatever decision they come to so long as it is based upon the evidence before them.

Thirdly, as Gotheforce has clearly stated (something which I might add you agreed with), given that Henjak does have his eyes on the wallabies jumper and that he has done a huge amount of growing up, you have to question why he would do something like this which could jeopardise his career. Maybe he is just a bad egg but maybe he had a damn good reason. I think you've made it clear that you believe there is no excuse for violence and we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. But society has a determined that there are circumstances in which violence is somewhat acceptable and if Henjak's actions fall into this category then society should stop judging and stop unfairly persecuting him as they have no right condemn behaviour which adheres to the boundaries which they themselves set. Alternatively, if Henjak just snapped and acted like an idiot then why can't we afford him the same treatment given to repeat offenders in every day society, or to the drug addicts, or psychopaths who we choose to rehabilitate rather than punish? Why can't we give him the opportunity to learn his lesson when history shows that he clearly is willing to do so even if it is a long long process. He's not a saint, but who is these days? I look at someone like Gits and have so much respect for him as a player and a person. Henjak is his best friend and he himself has said he will always support Henjak. I'm willing to trust Gits' judgment, if not the fact that there is not one person out there in his team who has spoken a bad word about him. If the players can get over this, then surely we as fans, and surely the stupid god damn media can as well.

[GIGS20]

Well said that man!

You should be a lawyer Jehna!

[MI5_Dog]

One of the things I've noticed about the media is that this alleged incident is considered big news. If the Force weren't a threat, or as good as they are, would the media care at all? If we had been last years wooden spooners would the media be as interested?

[The InnFORCEr]

One of the things I've noticed about the media is that this alleged incident is considered big news. If the Force weren't a threat, or as good as they are, would the media care at all? If we had been last years wooden spooners would the media be as interested?

Only the SMH

[gotheforce]

I think the Eastern media is trying to get the attention on the Force and off the Tahs. We all know the Tahs have a bad track record so far, possibly even worse than the Force's. Even Matt Dunning broke his own team mate's nose and Wendall Sailor snorted cocaine. So its a welcoming site for the eastern states to see this new successful club in the west come under some heavy fire and they would do anything to keep it the centre of attention. And possibly for the western states, they want to portray the rugby players as hooligans considering we are a footy state. Who knows?!


And I was talking about this with some mates, and we realised that no one mentioned who threw the first punch. According to Haig Sare's profile in Rugbywa, his mum's best advice was 'Always throw the first punch.' Maybe Sare did throw the first few punches, but couldnt get a good one in. And Henjak, being the fitter, stronger and tougher bloke, got a good hit on Sare's jaw and broke it? So does this mean its Henjak's fault for defending himself from punches? I believe if the tribunal board cannot fully get a minute by minute report on what truly happened, it will be unfair on Henjak to be released. Already he is portrayed as guilty, by the media, the Force (for sending him home) and by the supporters for doubting him. Do i have doubt in the tribual system? No, i dont. I believe the Force already semi-made a decision to release him. I say, let the supporters decide. Give Henjak a chance to plead his case, let us see the real side of the story and let us decide. As the australian motto is, "everyone should get a fair go."

I, for one, am hoping Henjak will continue to remain in the Force. I remember watching the ARC last year and seeing Henjak captain the Spirit well. I also see a changed man in henjak since he joined the force and a determined player looking to regain his respect from everyone else and be able to wear a wallabies jumper again.

[JediKnight]

What was Dunning's punishment for breaking a teammate's nose? A reduction in his pie allowance?!

[BLR]

What was Dunning's punishment for breaking a teammate's nose? A reduction in his pie allowance?!

He probably had to sit on the naughty stool....

[brokendown gunfighter]

What was Dunning's punishment for breaking a teammate's nose? A reduction in his pie allowance?!

had to stay back after training to practise drop goals

[gotheforce]

Btw, Dunning kicked the drop goal that caused NSW out of the semi-finals, went on a 48 hr drinking session, broke Tuiavii's nose, crash tackled teammates, harrassed a cab driver and annoyed members of the public. All in a 3 days period. Sat-Mon. I dont remember any punishment being dished out to him though.

And now Henjak breaks Sare's jaw, and he might possibly get his contract torn up. Pretty fair deal isnt it, ARU?!!!

And mind you, Lote Tuquiri as well. Got into a fight with Henjak and Sailor, has been suspended 3 times from the wallabies, pushed SNK and stirred trouble within the ranks of the tahs. If the force are as bad as the media says, i think the Tahs are about a hundred times worse. Plus, they created Tah-man, super 14's worse escort ever.

[Swee_82]

Plus, they created Tah-man, super 14's worse escort ever.

Freudian slip there?

[AndyS]

"NSW forwards Matt Dunning and Des Tuiavii were each fined $5,000 after "the two silly guys" (what sort of rough talk is that!!??) pleaded guilty to breaches of the NSW Rugby Union code of conduct.

The committee ruled the behaviour of both prop Dunning and flanker Tuiavii in the early hours of May 13 was "totally unacceptable and cannot be tolerated at any level of the game of rugby".

Dunning broke Tuiavii's nose while the latter was accused of spitting and vomiting (Nice!!!) on student Geoff O'Hare and slapping the same person over the head with a thong (God, how do you reckon that was read internationally?) during the Waratahs' post-season celebrations in the Sydney CBD.

The two men will line up on opposing sides on Thursday when Tuiavii turns out for Samoa against Dunning's Waratahs at Aussie Stadium. (So, not even a suspension for one game?)"
(Adrian Warren 10/06/2003)