Matt Henjak may own a Brumbies number-nine plate for his car but getting hold of the jumper to go with it sometime in the next two years was never a realistic proposition.
Hence the 23-year-old’s far-from-unexpected signing with the fledgling Super 14 franchise for the Western Force on Monday.
With Wallabies halfback George Gregan signed through to the end of 2007 with the ACT, Henjak had to weigh up having token stints each game or waiting for injury against an almost-guaranteed starting berth with Perth.
Unsurprisingly, he took the latter option; more surprising was the fact it was a three-year deal that takes him through 2008 — a season after Gregan is almost certain to retire.
”I’ve made the commitment to go over there for three years and I am happy with that commitment,” said Henjak. ”There was always thinking that I was going to sign for two years and come back here [to the Brumbies], but I’ve made the decision to go over there and I am 100% behind my decision.
”After three years, I’ll definitely be looking to come back … but three years is a long time and over there I could enjoy it and stay there for the rest of my career.”
Henjak, who had purchased the number-nine ACT number plate at the club’s presentation night auction for $10 000 last week, will be have to put it in storage as he heads to Perth hoping to replicate his good form of the last three rounds of Super 12.
Gregan had broken his leg in the match against New South Wales in round eight and Henjak stepped up to finish the season for the Brumbies at halfback.
”To get the consistency of game time, I think, is just going to just help my career in the next three years,” said Henjak, who has come off the bench to play one Test for Australia.
The Queensland Reds weighed in with a late offer, but the Force had been interested in Henjak almost from the time they gained Super 14 status in December.
Perth coach John Mitchell said giving Henjak game time would give Gregan competition for his Wallaby spot, but he wouldn’t say whether he could realistically mount a challenge for the Australian number-nine jumper while the incumbent is still playing.
”I can’t put a time frame on that at all, that will just come down to him getting regular rugby,” Mitchell said.
”His influence in the game has been evident in the fact that he has really improved the direction of the team with every outing.”
As part of his contract, Henjak will be able to have family members over to watch Force games, but he is still worried about who is going to help him out with domestic duties on a regular basis.
”My mum does everything for me — washes, cooks, makes my bed — I don’t know who is going to do that for me in Perth,” Henjak said. ”Hopefully, I’ll find some mother — the CEO’s wife or someone like that might do it for me.” — Sapa-AAP