Posted on 5 December 2008

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Parasol, the UK’s leading provider of business services to freelancers, contractors and recruitment agencies, has bought over 200 copies of Hull KR star Stanley Gene’s autobiography to send to his homeland of Papua New Guinea.

The consignment of the rapidly selling ‘Daydream Believer’ will be shipped to the rainforest of mountainous PNG in the New Year. And the locals in Gene’s home settlements near the city of Goroka will have the chance to read the life story of one of the most celebrated sportsmen in the South Pacific Islands.

Rob Crossland, managing director of Warrington based Parasol and vice chairman of Hull KR, said: “Stanley’s had a wonderful career and he has an amazing story to tell. To travel all the way round the world and succeed as he has is an incredible achievement. Like a lot of fans, I’ve admired the dynamism and heart that Stanley has always showed on the pitch. And learning about his life off the pitch puts it all in a fabulous context.”

Gene first came to the UK in 1995 with the PNG World Cup squad, and the following year he took the momentous decision to sign for Hull KR, and to play rugby on the other side of the world from his home. He settled so successfully, enjoying spells at Huddersfield and Bradford before returning to his beloved Hull KR at the beginning of the 2007 Super League season.

But every year he has travelled back to PNG to spend the close season with his friends and family. A hugely popular figure in Super League, he has legendary status in his homeland. And excitement reached fever pitch when he met up with the country’s World Cup Squad in October.

And his all action performances, particularly against England, have won him more fans world wide.

The retail price of a book at £11.99 equates to a week’s wage for many of the subsistence workers in PNG. Gene said: “This is a fantastic gesture by Rob. I don’t think he really knows just how much this will mean to all the people back home. It means a hell of a lot to me. I’m so proud of my country but life’s pretty hard over there. It’ll be just unbelievable for some people in my village to own a copy of Daydream Believer. It’s something I never thought would happen.

”It was great to see everyone back home before the World Cup, and meeting up with the team was tremendous. But it was a pretty emotional time for me.”

The book, which tracks Gene’s life on both sides of the world, has been billed as ‘unlike any other sporting autobiography’ and his candid, heart warming and often funny account of how he adapted is getting impressive reviews. Following the award of The Independent’s ‘Book of the Week’ shortly after its release, sales have now reached almost 4,000 as demand has tested speed of supply.

Crossland said: “When you read about Stan’s family and the strength they all have in coping with life in such a tough land, it’s quite inspiring. I know it can be a dangerous place to be, which explains a lot about how Stanley easily copes with situations that would frighten most people to death.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to help in this way. Stanley’s friends and family should have the same opportunity to read his book as we do.”