Queensland scrum-half and PNG-born Will Genia has been unexpectedly selected in the Wallabies squad for the Bledisloe Cup game against New Zealand in Auckland on July 18.

He replaces Josh Valentine, who was slapped with a fine by the ARU for a food fight in a Canberra hotel a fortnight ago, which also involved rookies Quade Cooper and James O'Connor.

Deans said the Papua New Guinea-born Genia, who represented Australia at last year's under-20 World Cup, still has major scope for improvement in his game.

"We were impressed by what we saw of his work with the Reds, and believe that he is only going to get better with time and opportunity to develop his game within our framework," he said.

Is this really true? guman too alright

All the Genias doing well. Brother Nigel picked for National Schoolboys Championships too.


Familiar names in Qld Schoolboy teams

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

Brisbane Boys College scrumhalf Nigel Genia has continued his familys links with Queensland schoolboy rugby teams by being selected for the National Championships in Sydney from July 8-13.

Nigel joins older brothers Frank and Will, who has since gone on to represent the QR Reds, as the third member of the Genia household to represent both the Queensland Under 16 and Queensland Schoolboy teams.

Nigel's feat comes after being selected on the bench for the Queensland Schools 1 team following a strong year for the BBC 1st XV team and in the Greater Public Schools 3 squad at the recent Sunnybank Community & Sports Club Queensland Schools Selection Trials.

ARU National Talent Squad coach Chris Lane, who has helped Will on his journey from schoolboy to Super 14 level, rates Nigel on par with his brothers.

Hes doing very well in his development and is on par with both of his brothers at this stage, Lane said.

Nigel is a very similar player to both Willie and Frankie. They all have a very strong pass and they do have the ability to control the game around the field.

Deans' phone call inspired Genia
Will Genia one of five QR Reds to be named for the Wallabies 30 man Tri-Nations squad
Thursday, 2 July 2009

A phone call from Wallaby coach Robbie Deans lifted the spirits of injured QR Reds scrumhalf Will Genia as he raced the clock for Australian selection.

The 21 year old playmaker was today included in the Wallabies 30 man Tri-Nations squad nine weeks after he tore a tendon in his finger during a standout two-try performance against the Brumbies in early May.

With a three month recovery period ruining Genia's hopes of being named in the first four Tests, Deans called the Papua New Guinea-born dynamo to offer encouragement.

He (Deans) just said 'do whatever you need to do to get back - dont rush back - and well definitely cross paths before the end of the year', Genia told reporters at Ballymore today.

That definitely stuck with me. It gave me an incentive to keep working hard.

Since then Genia has made massive strides in his recovery, but even he was surprised to hear of his selection so soon.

Its unbelievable. I was sitting in the office doing a business diploma course and I (was given a copy of) a media release. I read it and couldnt believe it, he said.

I couldnt study. I couldnt breathe properly."

Genia said he was already back on the training field practising his passing and the hand had healed well.

Ill be right to go in two weeks. Ive pretty much been in full training for the past two weeks, barring contact.

Genia was able to share his excitement with younger brother Nigel, who was at Ballymore training with the Queensland Schools team, but had yet to speak to his mother and father.

Mum is in Belgium and she doesnt have a phone and Dads in PNG in the villages doing a bit of fishing. They have no idea.

My dad gets back to Port Moresby today so Ill be able to give him a call tonight, but Mum gets in on Sunday. Ill probably send her an email, which isnt as good, but as long as she knows.

Genia's 2009 Super 14 season started on the bench, ended with an injury, and included a four-game suspension for a dangerous tackle.

Genia said his main focus at the start of the year had been on cementing a starting spot in the Reds, rather than any national honours.

That was my goal, more so than getting a chance to play for the Wallabies, he said.

For me my focus was just playing for Queensland and playing well, consistently for Queensland. I guess the rewards have come.

Genia pinpointed a change in attitude to his preparation as a key reason behind his improvement - something he wants to work on when the Wallabies enter camp on Tuesday.

For me it is probably just being around players like Matt Giteau and Sterling Mortlock, and just learning as much as I can to further develop my game and become a better player.

Genia was one of five Reds to be named, with James Horwill, Berrick Barnes, Peter Hynes and Quade Cooper also selected.

That's all good, but how about the Puk Puks?
I guess they will only get players of this calibre when they are past thier prime.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25725421-2722,00.html

WILL Genia was sitting in a classroom at Ballymore yesterday doing his diploma in business course when he was handed a piece of paper.

It was the Wallabies' Tri-Nations squad and Genia's name was highlighted in yellow.

Genia was the only bolter in the 30-man squad, replacing back-up halfback Josh Valentine.

"I'm stoked. I couldn't believe it," Genia said.

The 21-year-old was poised to be selected in Australia's squad for the in-bound Tests, but was ruled out after damaging a finger tendon in a two-try performance for Queensland against the Brumbies on May 2. He will be fit to play again in two weeks, which is when the Wallabies tackle the All Blacks in Auckland on July 18.

"Robbie (Deans) called me after the Brumbies game," Genia said. "He said 'keep working hard and our paths will cross before the end of the year'.

"All I wanted to do this year was play good, consistent rugby for Queensland and now I've been rewarded with a place in the Wallabies. If I get picked, I'll be right to play in two weeks. All I can do is do everything I can to get fit and prepare.

"It would be awesome to face the haka in Auckland and play against the All Blacks, one of the best teams in the world."

Genia will become one of the few players of Papua New Guinean birth to become a Wallaby. After moving to Australia as a 12 year old, he was plucked from obscurity by former Queensland coach Eddie Jones to make his Super rugby debut for the Reds' season opener against the Hurricanes in 2007 without having played a senior club game for Brisbane Wests.

A member of the Australian under-20 team last year, Genia continued his development this season, competing with Australia A halfback Ben Lucas for the Reds' No9 jersey. While Genia has been out of sight, he has not been out of Deans' mind.

"As a young man he is very strong," Deans said. "He's got a good passing game and he's strong in the carry. In his last outing against the Brumbies, he scored two tries that day as well as distributing effectively.

"He is a bloke who we believe will add a lot to our game.

"Against a tiring defence a bloke like him is going to be pretty challenging and we've seen that in Super rugby."

Genia, who is finalising a two-year deal with the ARU and the Reds, will play a key role in maintaining the Wallabies' pace and pressure for 80 minutes.

"That's something I've concentrated on this season," Genia said. "I was given some advice by (former Australia and Reds halfback) Sam Cordingley. Whatever time you get make the most of it and make a difference. It doesn't matter if it's two minutes or 20 minutes."

The only other change to the Wallabies squad was the inclusion of number eight Wycliff Palu, who has recovered from a broken hand and has effectively replaced the sacked Lote Tuqiri.

Will Genis is the real deal. Top mangi !!!

sorry i find it hard to believe i thought he was on the reserves for the red and hasn't had much game time. Clarify if im wrong!

You're not wrong but he still got selected!!!!!!!!

BEST!!!!

I saw it this morning on Channel 7 "Sunrise" news. Good on you Will!!!!

Gud on him, but he is playing for australia . not Png so I couldnt care less

You are just a jealous good-for-nothing computer critic and do not understand a good PNG rugby player when he emerges out from his own hard work. How many PNG players can do like what he did? How many can make it into the super 14, let alone the wallabies.

He is playing for australia that is why this is more remarkable than playing for PNG.

It has nothing to do with jealousy, but more to with loyalty and development of sport in PNG.
Its good he made the Wallabies, Adrian Lam could have chosen a different path and played for either Australia or England, but chose the country of his birth to assist and develop a struggling team that needs players of his caliber.
Hopefully the same can be said for Will in years to come, we will just have to wait and see.

Thank you , my point exactly. Its all about loyalty and I agree u can play any where in the world but home is where the heart is. Just dont try playing for PNG once you stop getting into the Australian side, cause thats what makes ppl bitter. All the best with his career in australia but i wud have gone with my home country just my opinion thats why i dont support you.

He left when he was 12 his home country is now australia

why is it png ppl cannot support their own countrymen? we always shoot down someone who tries and succeeds in bettering themselves. Well done will on making the wallabies. yes he wouldve added another dimension to the pukpuks but he wouldve also dropped his high level of standard that he's used too. its the nature of the game.
He's playing on the world stage with the worlds best. The best team in the world considered him good enough to join their ranks. We as pngeans should be proud one of our own is carrying our name.

peace out haters!

GOOD ON YA WILL

No use wasting your talent playing for the PNG PEKPEKS... n getting smashed around...

some of u are so dumb, we should be proud of Will he's done us proud by making it into the Qld Reds team and now the wallabies, opens the way for the development of rugby union in PNG. I play rugby union in country NSW and people were suprised because most Aussies see PNG as a League nation. stop mouthing off and support Will and the wallabies

i support Will. Not support the wallabies.

well said Annon... I support Will also not the wallabies... A brother who makes it onto the World stage and mixes with the best of them demands nothing but respect from u cynical A-holes who could not make it ur self so find the need to put him down...... Give him that respect he rightly deserves and be proud of him.. Most times he's mentioned in the papers, PNG is mentioned along with it.. Playing for the pukpuks will be a waste of talent, as the common saying goes; u are only as good as the people around you... Bata Genia give it to the SAFFAS... Fingers crossed u get the run on spot... I'm a League fan but I'm supporting this brother for sure.... Met him a few times out and about in Brisbane too.... TRUE GENTLE he is, so full support...
H'lander

Hahahah boi blo mipla ya...yupla maski belhat na daunim score blo em. at least em showim anyone can get into the wallabies and be the best in the world. Support na hamamas lo boi blo yumi.....em mangi kone Sharks ya.

Sharkie tok..."Em Normal Ya"

lol QUESTION!!!

How em one pla Kone Sharks mangi if he grew up in Australia?? Guman too alright !! GOOOOOOO PNG!!!

Answer to your question.......when he comes to visit his dad em save play for Kone Sharks....he played U19, B Grade, and premier Grade....

em tokstret maski mauswara yu poofy

Holim blo yu yet yu kant

sori for u bro... ur jelous cos ur stuck in ur **** hole while our brada is going to play the world champs tomorrow...

ur a pathetic kant urself.

GO WILL!

Will made history, will go in the history books. First PNG blood in Wallabies. You have to be proud for a pNG representation in a truely global sport. If he played against SAFA this w/end millions will be watching and guess what..? PNG usually gets mentioned by the commentators when it comes to talk about Will.

You little headless chook.. givim support tasol.

Rugby boi

Actually, Graeme Bond was the first person from PNG to play for the Wallabies...

Mangi East New Britain...

ta.

Is it Graham or Eddie?

Pls confirm. Em bin save pilai blo ACT Brumbies yah. Mangi DOY Island, Eas New Britain,.

Well said mate.

But you being a sharkie, May i ask you why you sharkies aren't turning up to play on the past two weekends? You guys were continously flogged and when it came to you to play your arch rivals the Green Boys you got scared like pussies and did not turn up.

Bro, I will give an advice for sharkies for next season.
Dissassociate from POMRFU because we do not need scaredy cats or pussies. Convert you yourselves to gays. Get advice from Moses Tau and field a netball team to in friendlys every Saturday morning at Rita Flynn courts.The rugby community in POM does not yous.

Will em trupela man, tasol yupla ol sharkis ol geigeli. Nogat sem blo yupla. Poret tasol lo pilai

Mr Defence, yu toktok smart olsem maus blo ol meri. let me tell you something. in 07 we kicked your ass in the semis na yu poret na smashim lines man which resulted in the match being stopped and awarded to us. but no, you had to take a court order like a tipical geligeli and ask for a re-match..(see how backwards people like you are contributing to the sport?) we didnt want a re-match because it wasnt fair as its the finals and it was your own people who assulted the touchie. but the judiciary ruled that there has to be a re-match as your whole team sucked the judiciary panel twice for good measure na ol hamamas. so we had a re-match and we lost because our heart wasnt in it....
okay come 2008, we make the finals in a 8 game winning streak winning by bonus point to secure a 4th place spot. we kicked your ass out in the first match...and then kicked Harlies out and met Uni in the grand final to which they beat us........so Mr defence...noken maus tumas na tingim...mipla kisim laif blo yupla pinis...hehehe

I believe Graeme Bond WAS the first PNG wallaby. Great talent and gifted athlete.Went to school with him at Katherine Lehmann School in WAU.

Good to see PNGeans getting our country on the world stage by talent and not negative reports.

Keep up up!!

yes i totally agree..Graeme Bond was sure indeed the 1st PNG born wallaby. great player too. i was a fan!!

Sharkie, you did not turn up again on the weekend. What a shame.
Maski toktok lo history.
Talk about whats happenning now. I doubt your existense in the POMRFU becoz only men with brut strenght exist in the toughest Rugby Union Comp in the country.
So you better round up your sharkies and put a haus krai for the last bikpela kaikai coz this season may be the end of your rugby team.
By the way, for the record i was once a Defence boy but decided to move to another club. When moved, i decided that it was to club with men who have guts not a club with geligelis who won't turn up for games just because they are last on the ladder. Wanderers was the Club.

Olsem me strongpela silent supporter blo ol.

In the grand final What was the score like between you guys and Uni?

Me bin stap overseas na mi no save.

yu bin kaikai kok blo husait overseas na yu no kam watch?

Bro, me askim tasol ya. Mi bin sapotim Sharks lo win yah!
Ok yu tok score i bin olsem wanem?

In the grand final they did not play rugby.
There was some last minute changes and they played criket and the mighty piggies won by an innings and 50 or something runs.

You know why the Uni team is called piggies??? well they all fat madafakahz and all look so ugly like pigs.......

go the sexy sharkies.....down but not out....

Kath , Bro yu tok turu ya. During the year they got wacked by Harlies, Brothers, Chiefs and Defence and then they played some off field tactics by trapping Jack Maraha by making drunk so he could not play against Harlies(A game Chiefs had to lose for Uni not to drop out of the Finals).

Last week they were beaten by Defence in extra time and now I hear they are going back to judiciary to sort it out. The Judicary for POMRFU was in non extistence until Uni lost to Defence last Sunday.

Whose interest are the Amet brothers( who are members of the executive) serving?

The biggest cry baby of them all is George Hoki, bloody geligeli.

Harlies to meet Defence(sapos judicary i wok gut) at the GF and win by 2 points

Mr Defence who is now Mr Wanderers...you are a club slut are you? jumping from club to club so which dick fits tightly in you big kunu matu.....
Well to be honest, you wanderers should not be in the premier grade along with Royals....bikoz yupla last in 08 na Royals came back from a ban na ol should start lo A grade...but since yupla salim hass lo POMRFU big boys..ol larim yupla play.......
so just be happy yupla stap yet...hul yu over.