Ivan Henjack has been shown the door three weeks before the NRL premiership kick-off and officially ended his two-year tenure as Brisbane coach. Henjack was replaced by his assistant, Anthony Griffin even with two more years left to run his contract.

Broncos officials said in a press conference at the club’s Red Hill quarters that the decision was reached by the members of the board.

“It has been decided at board level that a change needed to be made in this regard and that change will be made effective immediately,” Broncos chief executive, Paul White was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.

The AAP said in a report that Henjack lost the support of a number of senior Broncos players. It also noted that the newly unemployed coach had received an ‘unfavorable assessment’ from his players written in a report submitted at the end of last year. The evaluation came when Broncos missed the finals in 2010, marking its first in 19 years.

“These are tough times for all parties concerned, but I would like to express my personal thanks and that of the club to Ivan for taking on such a challenging role and for his valuable contribution to the Broncos for the past eight years,” White added during the club’s announcement Monday.

Ivan, said AAP was given three months pay in exchange for his silence on the issues surrounding his departure from the team.

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