Stanley Gene

Who is Stanley Gene?

Stanley Gene 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 KR, Huddersfield Giants, Bradford Bulls, Hull FC and Halifax RLFC.

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. 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.