Matthew Thomas Henjak

Matt Henjak had the benefit of a good sporting pedigree. His uncle Ivan played first grade rugby league and he was educated at Canberra’s famed St Edmund’s College, alma mater to Wallaby halves George Gregan, Matt Giteau and Ricky Stuart. From there Henjak was good enough to win selection at halfback for Australian Schools in 1999 and the U21s World Championships in 2002.

A year later he made his Super Rugby debut for the ACT Brumbies against the Chiefs and in 2004 he played his maiden Test, against England in Brisbane. Henjak played four Tests for the Wallabies over his two year international career but could have achieved significantly more had it not been for a series of disciplinary-related issues that plagued him throughout his early to mid-20s.

Highlights

1999

Represented Australian Schools against New Zealand Schools.

2002

Selected in the Australian squad for the inaugural IRB U21s Junior World Championship tournament in South Africa.

2004

Henjak won his first Test cap off the bench when he replaced Clyde Rathbone at outside centre (and then switched to left wing with Joe Roff) in the 51-15 demolition of England at Suncorp. He picked up a second cap in the 1st Test loss to New Zealand in Wellington.

2005

Henjak earned two more caps in 2005, the first against Samoa on Sydney and his second against Ireland in Dublin.