Gene Ngamu
Encyclopedia
Gene Robert Ngamu is a New Zealand
former rugby league
player. He played mainly at Halfback or Five Eighth and is probably best known for his combination with Stacey Jones
in the Auckland Warriors and New Zealand Kiwis.
and Northcote Tigers
in the Auckland Rugby League
competition. He joined the Tigers in the 1992 pre-season while on a scholarship with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
, however was called to Sydney fulltime before the season began.
, signing with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
on a two year deal. He made the Junior Kiwis
in 1992.
In 1994 he joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs
but could not break into the first grade side.
He returned home in 1995 to join the new Auckland Warriors franchise, playing in the inaugural run on side. A goalkicker, Ngamu holds the record for Most Points in a Match for the Auckland Warriors, a feat only equaled by Ivan Cleary
and James Maloney
. He stayed with the Warriors until the 1999 season, when he left for England.
joint franchise before leaving England.
club in Manly
before retiring from professional football. In 2005 he played for the North Harbour Dolphins in the Phelan Shield
before being called into the North Harbour Tigers team mid way through the 2005 Bartercard Cup.
debut.
He played in two World Cups
, representing the Kiwis in 1995 and the Aotearoa Māori
in 2000.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player. He played mainly at Halfback or Five Eighth and is probably best known for his combination with Stacey Jones
Stacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
in the Auckland Warriors and New Zealand Kiwis.
Early years
Ngamu started his career at the Marist SaintsMarist Saints
The Marist Saints is a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. They regularly feature in the Fox Memorial, the premier division in Auckland Rugby League...
and Northcote Tigers
Northcote Tigers
The Northcote Tigers are a rugby league club based in Northcote, New Zealand. The club was founded in 1910 as the Northcote Warriors.The Tigers compete in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. Between 2000 and 2002 the Northcote Tigers competed in the national Bartercard...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition. He joined the Tigers in the 1992 pre-season while on a scholarship with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
, however was called to Sydney fulltime before the season began.
Australian Competition
In 1992 he moved to SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, signing with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
on a two year deal. He made the Junior Kiwis
Junior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
in 1992.
In 1994 he joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
but could not break into the first grade side.
He returned home in 1995 to join the new Auckland Warriors franchise, playing in the inaugural run on side. A goalkicker, Ngamu holds the record for Most Points in a Match for the Auckland Warriors, a feat only equaled by Ivan Cleary
Ivan Cleary
Ivan Cleary is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors where he achieved much success...
and James Maloney
James Maloney
James Maloney is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.- Playing career :...
. He stayed with the Warriors until the 1999 season, when he left for England.
England
Ngamu had an unhappy two seasons with the Huddersfield-SheffieldHuddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
joint franchise before leaving England.
Later years
Ngamu then joined a rugby unionRugby 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...
club in Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
before retiring from professional football. In 2005 he played for the North Harbour Dolphins in the Phelan Shield
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
before being called into the North Harbour Tigers team mid way through the 2005 Bartercard Cup.
Representative career
Ngamu made his international debut for the New Zealand Kiwis in 1993, one year after his Junior KiwisJunior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
debut.
He played in two World Cups
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
, representing the Kiwis in 1995 and the Aotearoa Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
in 2000.