Posted By Staff Reporter
Stanley Gene: Image credit: Chris Thompson By HENRY MORABANG /The National LONG-serving Kumul Stanley Gene is calling on all rugby league stakeholders to work together and prepare the best team to the 2013 World Cup in England in October. Speaking exclusively to The National from Hull, in the United Kingdom, Gene said everyone should support government’s effort through Sports Minister Justin Tkatchencko and back the PNG Rugby League Foundation and the interim executive headed by Don Fox. Gene said previously he had other thoughts about PNGNRL Bid, now renamed PNG Rugby League Foundation, but was convinced during PNGNRL Bid Legends games that they had done a good job, especially the All-School Rugby League programme. "We all should support the minister’s focus and if they want Mal Meninga as coach, we all must support them," he said.
Gene, a former Kumul captain, said he did not share the views of fellow former Kumul Marcus Bai, who called on the country to be wary of interference by Tkatchenko. He asked what Bai had done for the game in terms of helping players secure contracts in Australia. He called on Bai to stop bad-mouthing the PNG Rugby League Foundation and offer something constructive to help prepare a strong Kumuls outfit. Gene, pictured, said he fully supported and was happy with government’s involvement in the country’s most popular sport. "They basically tried to get the PNG’s number one sport back on the right track," he said. Gene challenged the PNGRFL to support s representative players in life after football. "I strongly believed that PNGRFL has failed its players big time. PNGRFL does not look after them after their representative careers are over," he said. "That is something the national body should work on to help Kumul players," he said. He said the national body should help the players find alternate jobs when they retired from playing. He suggested the PNG Rugby League Foundation and PNGRFL employ Kumuls as development officers. "They have been great ambassadors of the country playing rugby league but need jobs after they hang up their boots. Currently the bulk of former Kumul players are jobless and have nothing to do compared to Australia and New Zealand," he said. "It is very sad to see a lot of Kumuls now walking the streets of our major cities and the towns they come from, literally doing nothing." Gene, who singlehandedly supported Kumuls like Charlie Wabo, Jessie Joe Parker, Nicko Slain and Michael Mark to play in England, said those players had changed their lives, mentally and become better players by playing overseas. He singled out Wabo as a player who had matured in the game. "Wabo was outstanding among the lot. He always pays a courtesy call when I am in Port Moresby. His wife cooked and dropped in to visit me, and this was very kind of him," he said. Gene said he helped players contracted with clubs in England without any recognition from PNGRFL, He said it was PNGRFL that should be finding contracts for players overseas. Comments are closed.
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