Henjak on western wish list with Perth franchise ready to recruit.

(From Canberra Times)

Rugby Western Australia chairman Geoff Stooke says it would be ''wasting our time'' to target young ACT Brumbies stars Mark Chisholm and Mark Gerrard when the new Perth franchise begins its recruiting drive.

But reserve Brumbies scrumhalf Matt Henjak remains at the top of the list of potential signings for the new team to enter an expanded Super 14 in 2006. The new franchise will begin assembling a squad almost immediately after a coach and chief executive are appointed within the next two months.

Fullback Gerrard and lock Chisholm will both be off contract at the end of this season, but Stooke doubted either could be coaxed away from the Brumbies.

''I can't pre-empt who the coach will be looking at, but I don't think it will be all that smart wasting our time with those guys,'' Stooke said. ''There's plenty of others around that are a bit restless, not those guys who seem pretty happy with what they're doing.

''No State will give those guys up easily, so we're probably better off looking elsewhere.'' A number of players from NSW and Queensland have already approached Perth officials about joining the new team.

But, in heartening news for the Brumbies, none of the Super 12 champions have gone looking west.