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Stanley Gene ready to lead the Kumuls
By CLIVE HAWIGEN
PNG Kumuls England-based player Stanley Gene does not think that
the Papua New Guinea Football League is working hard towards
marketing its players overseas.
Gene, who made similar comments earlier this year, criticised the
PNGRFL for doing nothing to market players who have potential as
professional footballers.
He noted that smaller Pacific nations like Fiji, Tonga, the Cook
Islands and Samoa as having more players playing both rugby codes
in Australia, England, South Africa, France and New Zealand. PNG
only had Marcus Bai (now retired), Makali Aizue and himself.
“Marcus made a name in Melbourne, I did likewise here in Hull,
Makali is now an established prop forward with our team (Hull
Kingston Rovers). What I am saying here is that we have the
talents and the natural athleticism, it is the PNGRFL that is
failing miserably to do its part,” Gene said by phone from England
on Tuesday.
He called on the PNGRFL to set up a division that would cater for
marketing players.
Gene said the PNGRFL was ignorant of the fact that every player
that dons a rugby jumper had the dream of making it to the Kumuls
and hopefully getting a stint overseas.
He admitted that there was a problem relating to discipline set as
a precedent5 in Australia for some players who had short stints up
there, but in England there are every chances for PNG players to
go there and play.
“I am the bridge here but I don’t know who has the potential to
come to England and play - that is where the PGRFL should come
in,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PNG Rugby Football League chief executive officer
Jeff Wade said Stanley Gene has not contacted PNGRFL regarding his
concept.
He said Gene should contact PNGRFL board with his concept and how
he envisions it working, then PNGRFL could then work with Gene to
try and get more players recognised overseas.
Wade said PNGRFL deals with the development and administration of
Rugby League in PNG not in England or any other country.
“Stanley should have the courtesy to speak with relevant people on
PNGRFL Board.
Stanley also says what he thinks should happen without actually
giving the nitty gritty details of how it is going to happen. We
have a development path in place. We have PNG players playing
overseas. Our priority is to the game in PNG,” he said
Wade said PNGRFL would welcome Gene’s proposal in writing so they
can discuss it at a board level.
He said making comments to the media isn’t giving PNGRFL any
details of how he is going to implement this scheme.
“We would ask Stanley to speak directly to PNGRFL with his ideas.
If he doesn’t tell PNGRFL how are we supposed to know what he is
talking about?” he said.
PNG’s England-based Hull Kingston
Rovers player Stanley Gene has put his hands up for the Kumuls
captaincy job in preparation for the World Cup next year.
Speaking from England by telephone, Gene said this week that he
has the credentials and attributes to lead the Kumuls into the
World Cup.
At the same time, he called on Kumuls coach Adrian Lam to start
preparing the World Cup team.
Gene said he, like Marcus Bai, was prepared to assist Lam in his
coaching job as the Kumuls captain.
Gene also made his intentions known to former Kumuls coach Ivan
Ravu who is currently on a business trip in England.
“Ivan and his entourage were here and saw one of my games, I spoke
to him about the composition of the Kumuls team, and he’ll be
coming in a few days time. I hope Ivan conveys my sentiments,” he
said.
Gene said he wanted the bulk of the team to be selected from SP
Cup competition and the National Zone championships trials.
He said if Lam and the PNGRFL were still interested in including
overseas-based players, there should be trial matches between a
team from SP Cup, a team selected from Zones competitions and a
team selected from Australian-based players.
Gene said the PNGRFL and its coaching staff should pick a team now
and have many trial games as possible.
The trial matches can be arranged with the New Zealand Maoris, the
Australian Indigenous side, a NRL club, an Australian President 13
side, the Kiwi’s, the Fiji Batis, a Tongan side, a Cook Islands, a
Samoan side and perhaps a game against the Australian Kangaroos.
 
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