Stanley Gene (allegedly born 11 May 1974 in Goroka)[2] is a Papua New Guinean rugby league player who currently plays for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League. He plays half back/loose forward/hooker. He has previously played for Huddersfield Giants and Bradford Bulls. He has represented PNG on several occasions. He is regarded almost universally in the UK as a rugby league legend and is one of the most highly regarded players in the game.
[edit] 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." [3]
[edit] Stanley 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 taro 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 [4]. 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 the fungus Phytophthora colocasiae struck regions near Goroka in 1958, 1962 and 1970 [5]. With this, it is possible that the taro crop decimation stated by villagers was actually caused by this fungus 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 [6]. 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[7].
[edit] Hull KR
After playing in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup for PNG, Gene was offered a contract to play for Hull Kingston Rovers. After moving to the UK, Gene played for Hull KR from 1996-2000. He scored 94 Tries in 111 matches during that period. In 2002, he left for Huddersfield, but eventually returned to Hull KR for their debut season in Super League in 2007.
[edit] Huddersfield Giants
Gene signed with The Giants in 2002 and was instrumental in their promotion back into Super League that year.[citation needed] He went on to make the OPTA Stats Dream Team[clarification needed] in 2003 and enjoyed some of his best years at the Giants.
[edit] Bradford Bulls
Gene moved to the Bradford Bulls for the 2006 Season. Along with fellow PNG national Marcus Bai, Gene helped the Bulls win the World Club Challenge against the Wests Tigers.[1] After only one season with the Bulls, he was released back to Hull KR.
Gene's representative career has lasted over a decade. After playing for PNG in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, he also played in the 2000 and 2008 World Cups.
In August 2008, Gene was named in the Papua New Guinea training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,[2] and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man PNG squad.[3]
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