Stanley Gene
Encyclopedia
Stanley Genehttp://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/gene-a-style-of-his-own/2008/11/07/1225561138171.html is a former Papua New Guinea
n rugby league
player who currently coaches the Villeneuve Leopards in the Elite One Championship
in France. He recently played for Halifax
in the Co-operative Championship. He has also previously played for Hull KR
, Huddersfield Giants
and Bradford Bulls
. He is a versatile player, with the ability to cover virtually any position on the pitch. He was a regular for the PNG
for over 15 years, and captained the side on many occasions. He is highly regarded almost universally in the UK and Australia and his home country as a rugby league legend and is one of the most highly regarded players in the game.
crop. However, what this equates to in the Gregorian calendar
has always been debated among scientists and tribal elders. Scientists from PNG’s National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) have attempted to trace back the various taro beetle plagues that have hit the Goroka region over the past sixty years to more accurately calculate Gene's age, but the results to date have proven inconclusive or possibly even contradictory to initial village reports http://www.aciar.gov.au/project/CP/2000/044. Although no record of taro beetle destruction could be found before 1984, scientists and researchers were able to conclude that taro leaf blight caused by Phytophthora colocasiae
struck regions near Goroka in 1958, 1962 and 1970 http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119582761/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0. With this, it is possible that the taro crop decimation stated by villagers was actually caused by this disease and not the taro beetle as originally believed. If this is true then it is highly probable that Gene was born in either 1962 or 1970, making him either 46 or 38 years old as at 2008. Following the 2008 Rugby League World Cup the PNG National Parliament instructed the National Agricultural Research Institute and the Department of Family and Church Affairs to continue research into Gene's age as a matter of national importance.
Outside of this officially sanctioned government research, it is generally accepted that Gene was born after the end of World War II, with most estimations stating he is between 32 and 58 years old http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/stanley-gene-how-old-a-man-is-stan-971370.html. Gene himself states that he is 34 but has been unable to provide a birth certificate or any other proof of his date of birth. The latest rumour from Brian Noble
says that Gene is actually 42 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7691038.stm.
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 1996-2000. He scored 94 Tries in 111 matches during that period, and was a massively popular figure at the club before moving to rivals Hull in 2000.
club Hull in 2000. 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.
midway through 2001, but was unable to save them from relegation. However, he was instrumental in the club's unbeaten run and promotion back into Super League the following year. He went on to establish himself as one of Huddersfield's most important players, and enjoyed some of his best years at the Giants.
for the 2006 Season. Along with fellow PNG national Marcus Bai
, Gene's first match for the club was their win the 2006 World Club Challenge
against the Wests Tigers
. After only one season with the Bulls, he was allowed to rejoin Hull KR.
side Halifax
for the 2010 season along with fellow countryman and close friend Makali Aizue
.
and 2008
tournaments. In addition, he represented his country in numerous test matches before announcing his intention to retire from international rugby league following the 2008 World Cup. Following PNG's exit from the tournament, he was tearfully carried from the field by his team mates and given a standing ovation by the crowd. He is regarded in Papua New Guinea as a sporting legend.
stepped down as the coach of the PNG national team. Within a few days, it was announced that Gene would be installed as his replacement. The first game under Gene's leadership was the annual fixture between PNG and the Australian PM's XIII. Gene went on to coach the team for the 2010 Four Nations in Australia and New Zealand, failing to register a win.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
n 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 who currently coaches the Villeneuve Leopards in the Elite One Championship
Elite One Championship
The Elite One Championship is the top tier French professional domestic rugby league competition....
in France. He recently played for Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
in the Co-operative Championship. He has also previously played for Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
, Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield 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....
and Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
. He is a versatile player, with the ability to cover virtually any position on the pitch. He was a regular for the PNG
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
for over 15 years, and captained the side on many occasions. He is highly regarded almost universally in the UK and Australia and his home country as a rugby league legend and is one of the most highly regarded players in the game.
Pronunciation of 'Gene'
There has been confusion over the pronunciation of 'Gene'. "When I first arrived in England people called me Gene (Jean) and I thought it sounded quite posh, so I got used to it, but it is Gene (Gennay), that's how it is pronounced back home." http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,24501544-14823,00.htmlStanley Gene's Age
Stanley Gene's age has always been a mystery. According to villagers he was born during a full moon several months after a successful kau kau (sweet potato) crop harvest in Goroka, but just before a plague of taro beetle decimated almost all of the region's taroTaro
Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
crop. However, what this equates to in the Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
has always been debated among scientists and tribal elders. Scientists from PNG’s National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) have attempted to trace back the various taro beetle plagues that have hit the Goroka region over the past sixty years to more accurately calculate Gene's age, but the results to date have proven inconclusive or possibly even contradictory to initial village reports http://www.aciar.gov.au/project/CP/2000/044. Although no record of taro beetle destruction could be found before 1984, scientists and researchers were able to conclude that taro leaf blight caused by Phytophthora colocasiae
Phytophthora
Phytophthora is a genus of plant-damaging Oomycetes , whose member species are capable of causing enormous economic losses on crops worldwide, as well as environmental damage in natural ecosystems. The genus was first described by Heinrich Anton de Bary in 1875...
struck regions near Goroka in 1958, 1962 and 1970 http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119582761/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0. With this, it is possible that the taro crop decimation stated by villagers was actually caused by this disease and not the taro beetle as originally believed. If this is true then it is highly probable that Gene was born in either 1962 or 1970, making him either 46 or 38 years old as at 2008. Following the 2008 Rugby League World Cup the PNG National Parliament instructed the National Agricultural Research Institute and the Department of Family and Church Affairs to continue research into Gene's age as a matter of national importance.
Outside of this officially sanctioned government research, it is generally accepted that Gene was born after the end of World War II, with most estimations stating he is between 32 and 58 years old http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/stanley-gene-how-old-a-man-is-stan-971370.html. Gene himself states that he is 34 but has been unable to provide a birth certificate or any other proof of his date of birth. The latest rumour from Brian Noble
Brian Noble (rugby league)
Brian 'Nobby' D. Noble is an English former rugby league footballer. Noble is also the former coach of the Great Britain National Rugby League team. He was also the captain of the 1984 Great Britain touring team to Australia...
says that Gene is actually 42 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7691038.stm.
Hull KR
After playing in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
for PNG, Gene was offered a contract to play for Hull Kingston Rovers in the old Second Division
Rugby League National Leagues
The Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...
. After moving to the UK, Gene played for Hull KR from 1996-2000. He scored 94 Tries in 111 matches during that period, and was a massively popular figure at the club before moving to rivals Hull in 2000.
Hull
Gene signed for Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
club Hull in 2000. 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.
Huddersfield Giants
Gene signed with Huddersfield GiantsHuddersfield 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....
midway through 2001, but was unable to save them from relegation. However, he was instrumental in the club's unbeaten run and promotion back into Super League the following year. He went on to establish himself as one of Huddersfield's most important players, and enjoyed some of his best years at the Giants.
Bradford Bulls
Gene moved to the Bradford BullsBradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
for the 2006 Season. Along with fellow PNG national Marcus Bai
Marcus Bai
Marcus Bai is a Papua New Guinean former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. Primarily a winger, he played his final season in 2006 for English Super League team Bradford Bulls. He is the only man to win the World Club Challenge with three different clubs...
, Gene's first match for the club was their win the 2006 World Club Challenge
2006 World Club Challenge
The 2006 World Club Challenge was a Rugby League match held on Friday, 3 February, 2006, at Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, UK. The game was contested by Bradford Bulls and Wests Tigers.-Bradford Bulls:...
against the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
. After only one season with the Bulls, he was allowed to rejoin Hull KR.
Second spell at Hull KR
Gene returned to his first English club following their promotion to Super League in 2007. He provided experience and a steadying influence as the club established itself in Super League, before being allowed to leave at the end of the 2009 season.Halifax
Following his release from Hull KR, Gene signed for Cooperative ChampionshipRugby League National Leagues
The Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...
side Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
for the 2010 season along with fellow countryman and close friend Makali Aizue
Makali Aizue
Makali Aizue is a professional rugby league player who recently signed for Co-operative Championship club Halifax after playing his trade in Super League for Hull KR for many years.-Personal life:...
.
PNG
Gene's representative career lasted over a decade. He made his name for PNG in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, and also played in the 20002000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
and 2008
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
tournaments. In addition, he represented his country in numerous test matches before announcing his intention to retire from international rugby league following the 2008 World Cup. Following PNG's exit from the tournament, he was tearfully carried from the field by his team mates and given a standing ovation by the crowd. He is regarded in Papua New Guinea as a sporting legend.
Coaching
In 2010, Adrian LamAdrian Lam
Adrian Lam is an Australian rugby league football coach and former international player. He is the head coach of the under 20 St George Dragons squad National Rugby League team he signed with them in 2010 and will combine with coaching legend Wayne Bennett.He is a former Papua New Guinea rugby...
stepped down as the coach of the PNG national team. Within a few days, it was announced that Gene would be installed as his replacement. The first game under Gene's leadership was the annual fixture between PNG and the Australian PM's XIII. Gene went on to coach the team for the 2010 Four Nations in Australia and New Zealand, failing to register a win.