Gene misses out on final home bow

[josie andrews]

Hull KR forward Stanley Gene will miss the chance to make a farewell appearance at Craven Park after being left out of coach Justin Morgan’s squad for Saturday’s engage Super League play-off with Wigan Warriors.

The 35-year-old Papua New Guinea international, who first joined Rovers after playing for his country in the 1995 World Cup, is out of contract at the end of the season and was told this week he would not be offered a new deal as a player, although he could join the club’s backroom staff.

Ironically, Gene was cleared to play on Saturday after avoiding suspension for foul play in last Friday’s 44-8 defeat at Leeds Rhinos but there is no room for sentiment as Rovers enter the sudden-death phase of the play-offs.

If Morgan’s men win on Saturday, they will be away to either Leeds or St Helens in the semi-finals.

Gene makes way for the return of loose forward Scott Murrell and second rower Ben Galea, who both missed the Headingley defeat through injury.

Morgan also welcomes back from injury former Wigan Warriors full-back Shaun Briscoe and centre Jake Webster, who takes the place of broken-leg victim Chev Walker, for the club’s final home game of the year.

Wigan coach Brian Noble has named an unchanged squad but has not ruled out the possibility of recalling second rower Lee Mossop, who missed out against Castleford Tigers last Sunday.

“We’re pretty healthy,” he said. “Everyone who was available last week is available this week.

“We’ve got to look at the challenge of Hull Kingston, what they offer against us as opposed to what Castleford offered against us.”


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