View source for Stanley Gene

{{Short description|Former Papua New Guinean rugby league footballer and coach}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name           = Stanley Gene
|fullname       = 
|image          = Stanley Gene.jpg
|image_size     = 250px
|caption        = <small>Gene playing for PNG in 2008</small>
|position       = [[Rugby league positions|Utility]]
|birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|5|11}}
|birth_place    = [[Goroka]], [[Papua New Guinea]]
|height         = {{convert|5|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}}
|weight         = {{convert|87|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|retired        = yes
|club1          = [[Goroka Lahanis]]
|year1start     = 1993
|year1end       = 94
|appearances1   = 10
|tries1         = 21
|goals1         = 
|fieldgoals1    = 
|points1        = 84
|club2          = [[Lae Bombers]]
|year2start     = 1995
|year2end       = 
|appearances2   = 15
|tries2         = 16
|goals2         = 
|fieldgoals2    = 
|points2        = 64
|club3          = {{nowrap|[[Hull Kingston Rovers]]}}
|year3start     = 1996
|year3end       = 00
|appearances3   = 111
|tries3         = 94
|goals3         = 0
|fieldgoals3    = 0
|points3        = 376
|club4          = [[Hull FC]]
|year4start     = 2000
|year4end       = 01
|appearances4   = 28
|tries4         = 6
|goals4         = 0
|fieldgoals4    = 0
|points4        = 24
|club5          = [[Huddersfield Giants]]
|year5start     = 2001
|year5end       = 05
|appearances5   = 76
|tries5         = 27
|goals5         = 0
|fieldgoals5    = 0
|points5        = 108
|club6          = [[Bradford Bulls]]
|year6start     = 2006
|year6end       = 07
|appearances6   = 22
|tries6         = 7
|goals6         = 0
|fieldgoals6    = 0
|points6        = 28
|club7          = {{nowrap|[[Hull Kingston Rovers]]}}
|year7start     = 2007
|year7end       = 09
|appearances7   = 55
|tries7         = 10
|goals7         = 0
|fieldgoals7    = 0
|points7        = 40
|club8          = [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]
|year8start     = 2010
|year8end       = 
|appearances8   = 11
|tries8         = 3
|goals8         = 0
|fieldgoals8    = 0
|points8        = 12
| teamA          = [[Papua New Guinea Kumuls|Papua New Guinea]]
| yearAstart     = 1995
| yearAend       = 08
| appearancesA   = 16
| triesA         = 6
| goalsA         = 0
| fieldgoalsA    = 1
| pointsA        = 25
| teamB         = {{nowrap|[[PNG Prime Minister's XIII]]}}
| yearBstart    = 2008
| yearBend      = 
| appearancesB  = 1
| triesB        = 2
| goalsB        = 0
| fieldgoalsB   = 0
| pointsB       = 4
| coachteam1         = [[Newcastle Thunder]]
| coachyear1start    = 2014
| coachyear1end      = 15
| coachgames1        = 
| coachwins1         = 
| coachdraws1        = 
| coachlosses1       = 
| coachteamA         = [[PNG Prime Minister's XIII|PNG PM's XIII]]
| coachyearAstart    = 2010
| coachgamesA        = 1
| coachwinsA         = 0
| coachdrawsA        = 0
| coachlossesA       = 1
| coachteamB         = [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]]
| coachyearBstart    = 2010
| coachyearBend      = 
| coachgamesB        = 3
| coachwinsB         = 0
| coachdrawsB        = 0
| coachlossesB       = 3
| updated            = 9 November 2023
| source         = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Stanley_Gene.html Rugby League Project]</ref>
}}

'''Stanley Gene''' (born 11 May 1974) is a  [[Papua New Guinea]]n former [[rugby league]] Kumul (№ 166) player and Assistant Coach of the [[Hull F.C.]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-fc-announce-new-coaching-7781488 | title=Hull FC announce new coaching staff with Stanley Gene appointment confirmed | date=3 November 2022 }}</ref> He previously coached [[Newcastle Thunder|Gateshead Thunder]] and assistant coach at [[Hull Kingston Rovers]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hullkr.co.uk/gene-leaves-the-robins/ | title=Gene leaves the Robins | date=October 2014 }}</ref> and served as the [[Papua New Guinea Kumuls]] head coach in 2010. 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 FC]] and [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|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.

==Career==
===Club career===
Gene was born in [[Goroka]]. After playing in the [[1995 Rugby League World Cup]] for Papua New Guinea, Gene was offered a contract to play for [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] in the old [[RFL Championship|Second Division]]. After moving to the United Kingdom, 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.

Gene signed with [[Huddersfield Giants]] 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.

Gene moved to the [[Bradford Bulls]] for the 2006 Season. Along with fellow Papua New Guinea national [[Marcus Bai]], Gene's first match for the club was their win the [[2006 World Club Challenge]] against the [[Wests Tigers]].<ref name="leaguehq">{{cite web|url=http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/gene-a-style-of-his-own/2008/11/07/1225561138171.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211185704/http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/gene-a-style-of-his-own/2008/11/07/1225561138171.html|archive-date=11 December 2008|url-status=dead|title=Gene's fashion a style of his own - leaguehq.com.au|access-date=28 June 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He played from the interchange bench and scored a [[try (rugby)|try]] in the Bradford Bulls' 30–10 victory. After only one season with the Bradford Bulls, he was allowed to rejoin Hull Kingston Rovers.

Gene returned to Hull Kingston Rovers, 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.

Following his release from Hull Kingston Rovers, Gene signed for Cooperative Championship side [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]] for the 2010 season along with fellow countryman and close friend [[Makali Aizue]].

===PNG===
Gene's representative career lasted over a decade. He made his test début for PNG against [[France national rugby league team|France]] at the [[Lloyd Robson Oval]] in [[Port Moresby]] during the France's tour of Oceania in 1994. Selected as a substitute for his first test, Gene contributed a field goal in PNG's 29–22 win.. He then went on to play for the Kumuls during the [[1995 Rugby League World Cup]] in [[England]], and also played in the [[2000 Rugby League World Cup|2000]] and [[2008 Rugby League World Cup|2008]] World Cups. 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 teammates and given a standing ovation by the 16,239 strong crowd at the [[Dairy Farmers Stadium]] in [[Townsville]], Australia (his last game was a 46–6 defeat by the [[Australian Kangaroos|Kangaroos]]).

===Coaching===
In 2010, [[Adrian Lam]] 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 victory over tournament winner [[New Zealand Kiwis|New Zealand]], runner up Australia, and [[England national rugby league team|England]].

In September 2013 Gene was appointed head coach of [[Newcastle Thunder|Gateshead Thunder]] (now Newcastle Thunder) for the 2014 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=12175|title = Newcastle Thunder}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Gene lives in Yorkshire, Gene has three sons, Cameron, Elliott and Leo.<ref>{{cite web|title='Ageless' Stanley Gene gets ready to roll back the years|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/all-clubs/ageless-stanley-gene-gets-ready-to-roll-back-the-years-1-2292137|last=|first=|date=21 October 2008|website=Yorkshire Post|publisher=Johnston Press|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729141555/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/ageless-stanley-gene-gets-ready-to-roll-back-the-years-1-2292137|archive-date=29 July 2018|access-date=13 August 2014}}</ref> In 2006, he paid for the installation of electricity in his home village of Segu, located on the outskirts of [[Goroka]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Andy|title=Gene machine a favourite in Hull and powerhouse in a Papuan village|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/feb/02/rugbyleague.hullkr|website=The Guardian|access-date=13 August 2014|date=2 February 2008}}</ref> In 2012, he set up the Stanley Gene Foundation, aiming to supply donations to the deprived areas of Papua New Guinea.<ref>{{cite web|title=Help Hull rugby legend Stanley Gene set up charity for his native Papua New Guinea|url=http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Help-Hull-rugby-legend-Stanley-Gene-set-charity/story-17502631-detail/story.html|website=Hull Daily Mail|access-date=13 August 2014|date=5 December 2012}}</ref>

===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."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Woods|first1=Dave|title=The 'Jean' Genie|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/3654045.stm|website=BBC Sport|access-date=13 August 2014|date=23 April 2004}}</ref>

===Stanley Gene's age===
Stanley Gene's age was a major talking point about the player for many years. Although his date of birth registered with the [[Rugby Football League]] (RFL) was 11 May 1974,<ref>{{cite news|title=Golden oldies prove quality can be lasting|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/all-clubs/golden-oldies-prove-quality-can-be-lasting-1-2431164|work=Yorkshire Post|publisher=Johnston Press|access-date=7 August 2014|date=5 February 2007}}</ref> many of his former teammates and coaches insisted he was considerably older than this.

In 2008, Gene himself stated that he was 34, and explained that some people believe that Papua New Guineans "look older in the face" than in other countries.<ref name="foxsports">{{cite news|last1=Ritchie|first1=Dean|title=Ageless warrior credits genes|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/ageless-warrior-credits-genes/story-e6frf3yc-1111117765255?nk=eceef8c7350ad68b894e2e66f74938ad|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=13 August 2014|date=16 October 2008}}</ref> Despite this explanation, it was rumoured that he was unable to provide a birth certificate to prove his age,<ref name="foxsports" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hadfield|first1=Dave|title=Stanley Gene: How old a man is Stan?|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/stanley-gene-how-old-a-man-is-stan-971370.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/stanley-gene-how-old-a-man-is-stan-971370.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Independent|access-date=13 August 2014|date=24 October 2008}}</ref> and that he allegedly held several passports with different dates of birth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brian Noble on England's narrow win|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7691038.stm|website=BBC Sport|access-date=13 August 2014|date=25 October 2008}}</ref> Former [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] player [[Bryan Fletcher (rugby league)|Bryan Fletcher]] predicted that Gene could be as old as 45.<ref name="foxsports" />

On 11 May 2013, Gene confirmed that it was his 39th birthday. He showed guests at his birthday dinner his birth certificate, which confirmed that his date of birth is 11 May 1974.<ref name="hulldailymail">{{cite news|url=http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Stanley-Gene-finally-reveals-true-age-Hull/story-18970486-detail/story.html|title=Hull and Papua New Guinea rugby league legend Stanley Gene holds birthday bash at Bilton's Swiss Cottage pub|work= Hull Daily Mail|access-date=28 May 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160115152109/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/bb_squad_full.asp?SquadID=71 Stanley Gene Official Player Profile]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7660325.stm Players to watch - Stanley Gene (Papua New Guinea)]

{{Bradford Bulls - 2006 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Papua New Guinea squads
| bg=yellow
| fg=red
| bordercolor=black
|list1=
{{Papua New Guinea squad 1995 Rugby League World Cup}}
{{Papua New Guinea squad 2000 Rugby League World Cup}}
{{Papua New Guinea 2008 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Coaching positions
|list1=  
{{Newcastle Thunder coaches}}
{{Papua New Guinea national rugby league team coaches}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gene, Stanley}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Papua New Guinean sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century Papua New Guinean sportsmen]]
[[Category:Bradford Bulls players]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean expatriate rugby league players in England]]
[[Category:Goroka Lahanis players]]
[[Category:Halifax Panthers players]]
[[Category:Huddersfield Giants players]]
[[Category:Hull F.C. players]]
[[Category:Hull Kingston Rovers players]]
[[Category:Newcastle Thunder coaches]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team captains]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team coaches]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean expatriate rugby league players]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean expatriates in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:Papua New Guinean rugby league players]]
[[Category:PNG Prime Minister's XIII captains]]
[[Category:PNG Prime Minister's XIII coaches]]
[[Category:PNG Prime Minister's XIII players]]
[[Category:Rugby league five-eighths]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from the Eastern Highlands Province]]