The actual age of Papua New Guinea's evergreen enforcer Stanley Gene is a long-standing source of humour within the game of rugby league, but even the man himself admits that this year's World Cup will see him represent his country for one last time.

Gene, whose official age is 34, was spotted playing for the Kumuls in the 1995 tournament by Hull KR, who he subsequently signed for. Spells at Hull, Huddersfield and Bradford have followed, but with Gene now back at Hull KR and having just signed a new deal, he is warning that whilst his international career will end in Australia, there is still plenty of life left in him.

"People have been saying to me for the last five years that my time is up and that I have to retire, I have to give up," he told PA Sport.

"No-one tells me when I have to retire, when I have to go. When the time is right, I will know.

"I am the only person who will know when the time is right to put that ball in the bin. I'm playing really well and as I have got older I am playing more good footy.

"The World Cup will be the last time I play for the Kumuls though. I am good friends with the coach Adrian Lam and when he called me and asked me to come and play, I had to do it. But this is the last time for me."

Gene - a highly popular figure who is coming to the end of a testimonial year that has seen him publish his life story - admits that whilst he and former Wigan star Lam are close friends, that hasn't always between the case between the pair over the course of their careers.

"Adrian Lam is a good friend of mine, and when he called to see if I would fancy it, I said of course I would. It's such an honour for me. Me and Adrian get on well, but we have had some battles over the years. We fell out big time when he played for Wigan and I was at Huddersfield, having a fight on the field, but we are passionate men. We will be pulling together for our country."

Papua New Guinea have been drawn in the same group as the three tournament favourites, Australia, England and New Zealand and such was the Kumuls' disgust at their draw there was talk that they would withdraw from the competition in protest. But while Gene remains upset with the tournament organisers he is urging his fellow countrymen to use the games to showcase their talent and try to get a similar break to the one he got 13 years ago.

"When we go there, to the World Cup, it will be hard for us to qualify, but we can do it," he said.

"That is what I will say to the boys in the villages when I go back home before the competition.

"I will tell them that we will do our best and that we must not be scared of anyone. If they go out there, work hard and play hard, then the scouts will be watching and maybe someone will take a chance on them like Hull KR did for me in 1995. We can't be scared and we won't be scared."

Gene recently rounded off the best season of his career by signing a new one-year deal that will keep him at Hull KR until at least the end of 2009. Having grown up in the small village of Goroka - a village that he would later supply with electricity - he admits that moving to England not only made his career, it saved his life as well.

"As I have said before, I love the club and I love playing in England. Hull KR saved my life, which you can't understand if you have not been to Goroka. They gave me an opportunity to come to England and play for them, to work hard and to help me to provide for my family and everyone else back in Goroka.

"Representing my country at the World Cup is a reward for everyone that has supported me."