Ivan Henjak
Encyclopedia
Ivan Henjak is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He was the former head coach for the Brisbane Broncos
of the National Rugby League
, having taken over from Wayne Bennett in 2009. A New South Wales country representative halfback, Henjak played his football in the NSWRL premiership with St. George
, Canberra
and Wests
. He is also the uncle of Australia
international rugby union
player Matt Henjak
, while Henjak's son played front row for Australian Schoolboys.
, being appointed captain. Henjak then moved to St. George for 1992 when they lost the grand final against the Brisbane Broncos, but he did not play that day. This was followed by a final season playing football in England in 1993.
and teammate Haig Sare
were involved a drunken pub brawl which left Sare with a broken jaw.
Henjak was interviewed for the position of head coach at the Broncos in 2009 following Bennett's departure and was selected to take over the coaching reins for the 2009 season after Wayne Bennett left to head up St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Henjak's coaching career began well, with wins in all of his first three matches until the Broncos played against Wayne Bennett's Dragons in round four and lost. At round 7, his team had won all but one of their matches and were at the top of the ladder, having won 86% of their matches so far that season. But in a rollercoaster of a season for the new coach, Brisbane spent rounds 16 to 22 outside the top eight. Another turnaround in form saw the Broncos come within one match of the grand final in what was Henjak's debut season.
Henjak could not take the Broncos to the 2010 finals, in which the six-time premiers failed to make the finals for the first time in almost two decades. Despite a late season, 10–6 win over eventual premiers St. George Illawarra at home, losses to the Sydney Roosters
, Newcastle Knights
(both twice), Parramatta Eels
, New Zealand Warriors
and the Canberra Raiders
all proved costly.
On Monday the 21st of February 2011, it was announced by the Brisbane Broncos that Ivan Henjak had been sacked as head coach, and that his assistant coach Anthony Griffin
would be taking over the reins of the club.
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
, having taken over from Wayne Bennett in 2009. A New South Wales country representative halfback, Henjak played his football in the NSWRL premiership with St. George
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
, Canberra
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
and Wests
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
. He is also the uncle of Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player Matt Henjak
Matt Henjak
Matt Henjak is an Australian rugby union player. His position of choice is scrum-half. Henjak, of Croatian ancestry, is the nephew of former rugby league half-back and Brisbane Broncos head coach Ivan Henjak...
, while Henjak's son played front row for Australian Schoolboys.
Playing career
In 1987 Henjak, while playing for Canberra, was involved in a publicised dispute over an agreement he made to negotiate playing for Newcastle, despite having signed a contract to stay with the Raiders. That year he played at halfback in the Raiders' first grand final, which they lost to Manly. He later moved to the Western Suburbs MagpiesWestern Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
, being appointed captain. Henjak then moved to St. George for 1992 when they lost the grand final against the Brisbane Broncos, but he did not play that day. This was followed by a final season playing football in England in 1993.
Coaching career
Henjak became the Brisbane Broncos' reserve grade coach in 1994. He was later promoted to assistant coach under Wayne Bennett. Henjak was vocal about the alcohol culture of young players and their clubs after his nephew Matt HenjakMatt Henjak
Matt Henjak is an Australian rugby union player. His position of choice is scrum-half. Henjak, of Croatian ancestry, is the nephew of former rugby league half-back and Brisbane Broncos head coach Ivan Henjak...
and teammate Haig Sare
Haig Sare
Haig Sare is an Australian rugby union player. He plays as centre or winger for the Western Force in the Super 14. He played schoolboy rugby for the Shore School in Sydney.-Career:...
were involved a drunken pub brawl which left Sare with a broken jaw.
Henjak was interviewed for the position of head coach at the Broncos in 2009 following Bennett's departure and was selected to take over the coaching reins for the 2009 season after Wayne Bennett left to head up St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Henjak's coaching career began well, with wins in all of his first three matches until the Broncos played against Wayne Bennett's Dragons in round four and lost. At round 7, his team had won all but one of their matches and were at the top of the ladder, having won 86% of their matches so far that season. But in a rollercoaster of a season for the new coach, Brisbane spent rounds 16 to 22 outside the top eight. Another turnaround in form saw the Broncos come within one match of the grand final in what was Henjak's debut season.
Henjak could not take the Broncos to the 2010 finals, in which the six-time premiers failed to make the finals for the first time in almost two decades. Despite a late season, 10–6 win over eventual premiers St. George Illawarra at home, losses to the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
(both twice), Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
, New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
and the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
all proved costly.
On Monday the 21st of February 2011, it was announced by the Brisbane Broncos that Ivan Henjak had been sacked as head coach, and that his assistant coach Anthony Griffin
Anthony Griffin (rugby league)
Anthony Griffin is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and current head coach for the Brisbane Broncos of the NRL. He played in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership during the 1980s before taking up coaching...
would be taking over the reins of the club.