Ex-Wallabies star Genia makes surprise call at 37

Perth Now

a day ago

Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire.
Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level.
"I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview.
Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper.
Genia is anything but bitter.
"They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby.
"It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them.
"The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude."
Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade.
"I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said.
"I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition.
"Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience."
Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders.
"I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said.
"Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires."
If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching.
The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections.
His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation.
His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life.
"My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said.
"The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives.
"So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically."
Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity.
"I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport."