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Last Updated: Friday, 23 April, 2004, 16:48 GMT 17:48 UK
The 'Jean' Genie
BBC Sport's Dave Woods
Dave Woods
BBC Sport

Huddersfield's Stanley Gene hopes to be a household name this weekend.

The question is which name will each household know him by?

The Papua New Guinea international is set to play a starring role in the Giants' Challenge Cup semi-final against St Helens on Sunday.

But if you're singing his name from the stands of the Halliwell Jones Stadium, make sure you get his name right.

It's not Gene - as in Jean, it's Gene - as in Gennay.

"When I first arrived in England people called me Gene (Jean) and I thought it sounded quite posh, so I got used to it," laughs Huddersfield's box-of-tricks utility player.

"But it is Gene (Gennay), that's how it is pronounced back home."

Back home, he is a superstar.

In Papua New Guinea, where rugby league is a national sport, thousands will be waiting this weekend for news of his exploits in the Challenge Cup.

"There'll be a lot of family and friends waiting for a phone call after the match," he said.

"Unfortunately they would need a very big aerial to watch it live - they'll probably get to see it on a video a week later.

"When I go home I get a lot of attention. It's like being a football star here. At first it was strange, but I am used to it now."

Were he to be part of a Huddersfield team that went to Cardiff, it would make him even more of a star in this country.

And the way he and his team-mates have been playing this season, victory over hot-favourites St Helens can't be ruled out.




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