Stanley Gene

Stanley Gene

Gene playing for PNG in 2008
Personal information
Born	(1974-05-11) 11 May 1974 (age 43) Goroka, Papua New Guinea
Playing information
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Weight	87 kg (13 st 10 lb)
Position	Utility
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1993–94 Goroka Lahinas 10 21 1995–95 Lae Bombers 45 46 1996–00 Hull Kingston Rovers 111 94 0 0 376 2000–01 Hull FC 28 6 0 0 24 2001–05 Huddersfield Giants 76 27 0 0 108 2006–07 Bradford Bulls 22 7 0 0 28 2007–09 Hull Kingston Rovers 55 10 0 0 40 2010 Halifax 11 3 0 0 12 Total 358 214 0 0 588 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1995–08 Papua New Guinea 16 6 0 1 25
Source: Rugby League Project

Stanley Gene (born 11 May 1974 in Goroka) is a former Papua New Guinean rugby league player who currently coaches Gateshead Thunder as well coaching the academy team at Hull Kingston Rovers and served as the Papua New Guinea Kumuls head coach. Having moved to England following an impressive showing for PNG in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, Gene enjoyed a long career in the British game with spells at Hull Kingston Rovers, Huddersfield Giants, Bradford Bulls, Hull F.C. and Halifax.

Gene was a versatile player with the ability to cover virtually any position on the pitch, though he spent most of his test career playing at stand off (off-half). He was a regular for the PNG Kumuls for 14 years between 1994 and 2008, and captained the side on at least three occasions, including being the PNG captain during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, before retiring from international rugby league following the 2008 tournament. Gene is considered a hero in his home country and almost universally regarded as a rugby league legend.

After playing in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup for PNG, Gene was offered a contract to play for Hull Kingston Rovers in the old Second Division. After moving to the UK, Gene played for Hull KR from 1996 to 2000. He scored 94 Tries in 111 matches during that period, and was a massively popular figure at the club. He moved to Gateshead and was then forced to play for rivals Hull F.C. when they merged. However, he had a frustrating time there, mainly featuring as a substitute. He was granted a release from his contract midway through 2001 and allowed to look for another club.