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'We'd take Henjak'
Phil Lutton | February 22, 2008 - 1:57PM
NRL chief executive David Gallop has left the door open for rugby bad boy Matt Henjak to make the switch to rugby league.
Henjak is certain to be sacked by the Australian Rugby Union after he was found guilty of punching Western Force team-mate Haig Sare in a Fremantle hotel, breaking his jaw.
A misconduct tribunal hearing in Perth on Tuesday recommended his ARU contract be torn up after the fight, which is the latest incident in a string of off-field offences.
Henjak has been linked to English club Saracens, advised by former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones, and his name has been shopped around with limited success to a number of NRL clubs this week.
Canberra appear the most likely suitors for the Queanbeyan-born halfback after current Raiders number seven Todd Carney was rumoured to be a lock-in for a three-year deal with the Penrith Panthers.
Speaking at the launch of a book by Broncos legend Shane Webcke in Brisbane today, Gallop said he wouldn't rule out bringing Henjak into the fold if a club showed interest.
But the 26-year-old would only be eligible for registration if he showed he was making progress with the personal issues that put a bomb under his promising rugby career.
"We'd certainly want to have a look at addressing the issues he's obviously got. But but at this stage we'd wait and see if one of our clubs goes forward with an approach to him," Gallop said.
"We wouldn't rule it out but we'd want to know how he's addressing his personal issues.
"At this stage it's a matter for our clubs to consider whether they're interested in him. If one of them does that, we'd certainly have a look at the situation in more detail."
Gallop also said the NRL had been keeping a hawkish watch on expansion moves by Football Federation Australia, who announced that two further Queensland teams would join the A-League next season.
The Gold Coast and Townsville - both of whom also have NRL sides - will now be home to an A-League franchise. Queensland's only other club is the Brisbane-based Roar.
Gallop said he was confident the inception and success of the Gold Coast Titans had given the NRL the foot in the door in the rapidly-expanding region.
"We've certainly been keeping an eye on it. The good news for us is the Titans got into South-East Queensland and the Titans have exceeded expectations on and off the field," he said.
Strategically that was very important for us. But we're always keeping an eye on what's happening in the other codes."
Of course they would take him he'd fit right in!!
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