FORMER Bathurst resident Brett Henman got a chance to test himself against the best wheelchair rugby league team in the world on in Sunday when he and his fellow Wheelaroos lined up against France.
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The match was played as part of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in France, making facing the tri colours an even more daunting prospect.
While the Wheelaroos were unable to pull off an upset to make it two from two in their pool games, Henman and his team-mates did stretch the French before going down 102-22.
“Last night’s game was a big step forward for the team,” head coach Steve Hewson said.
“Although the score may not indicate it, this was a great performance by the team. The first 20 minutes was the best football ever played by an Australian team.
“To have led the French team twice was an achievement an effort to be proud of.
“Simple errors - ball control, silly penalties cost us dearly, especially in the second half. You can't give the world champions that much ball and expect to win.”
The match was a chance for Henman, who became a paraplegic after a 2013 rock climbing accident, to continue to build on his skills.
This tournament is Henman’s first with the national side, but he previously played for NSW Country, represented his state in the 2016 Interstate Challenge and took part in last year’s NSWWRL Cup grand final with the Sharks.
“Initially I didn’t know what I was going to do, now I’m travelling the world playing sport, so it couldn’t be better,” he told Sunrise before leaving for France.
“It’s quite tough, there’s lot of training involved, so there are a lot of sacrifices.”
Henman did get an idea of what to expect from the French in the lead-up to the World Cup, playing them at the Robert Passolette Challenge Cup in Limoux. The hosts won that game 70-16.
But on Sunday the intensity stepped up a notch as the Wheelaroos met the French once more.
On the back of a 72-24 win over Wales in the tournament opener in which Henman scored three conversions, the Wheelaroos made a bright start.
In the fifth minute their second try gave them a 12-6 lead over France and though the hosts equalised shortly after, the Wheelaroos responded to make it 18-12.
However, by half-time France had opened up a 54-18 lead and from there went on with the job.
Henman’s next match is against England.
