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 dont 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 Genes proposal in writing so they can discuss it at a board level.
He said making comments to the media isnt 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 doesnt tell PNGRFL how are we supposed to know what he is talking about? he said.
PNGs 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 hell 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 Kiwis, the Fiji Batis, a Tongan side, a Cook Islands, a Samoan side and perhaps a game against the Australian Kangaroos.
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 dont 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 Genes proposal in writing so they can discuss it at a board level.
He said making comments to the media isnt 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 doesnt tell PNGRFL how are we supposed to know what he is talking about? he said.
PNGs 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 hell 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 Kiwis, the Fiji Batis, a Tongan side, a Cook Islands, a Samoan side and perhaps a game against the Australian Kangaroos.
