Born Sanchez William Genia in Papua New Guinea’s capital on 17 January 1988, Genia’s journey from the Pacific to global rugby prominence remains one of the sport’s most compelling stories. Sent to Australia as a young boy to attend Brisbane Boys’ College, Genia arrived as a teenager of promise, without a first-grade match to his name, but with natural instincts and a passing game that would soon set him apart. In late 2006, then Queensland coach Eddie Jones took a bold gamble, selecting the untested youngster for a Queensland Reds debut on tour in Japan — a decision that would prove transformative for Australian rugby.

From that moment, Genia’s rise was rapid and relentless. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Reds in 2007 at just 19, and over the next eight seasons would become the heartbeat of the Queensland side. In total, he played 114 Super Rugby matches for the Reds, later adding further appearances with the Melbourne Rebels, before concluding his club career in Japan with Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, where he would also transition into a skills coaching role following retirement.

Genia’s name, however, is etched deepest into rugby folklore for his role in the Queensland Reds’ 2011 Super Rugby triumph. In a final that lives vividly in the memories of fans, he produced one of the competition’s most iconic tries — a daring solo run from inside his own half that sliced through Dan Carter and Richie McCaw before he surged 65 metres to the tryline. The roar of more than 50,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium rose with every stride, sealing not just a championship, but a defining moment in Super Rugby history.

That 2011 season was remarkable not only for the title, but for the mesmerising partnership Genia formed with flyhalf Quade Cooper. The pair played every match of the campaign together, an almost unthinkable feat in today’s era of load management. Their instinctive understanding and attacking flair dominated the competition and established them as one of the most influential halves combinations of the professional era.

On the international stage, Genia’s achievements were equally formidable. He made his Wallabies Test debut in 2009 against New Zealand at Eden Park and went on to earn 110 Test caps for Australia, becoming just the tenth Wallaby to reach the 100-Test milestone and only the second Australian scrum-half after George Gregan to do so. He represented Australia at three Rugby World Cups, claiming a bronze medal in 2011 and a silver medal in 2015, and was widely regarded as one of the finest scrum-halves of his generation, with former All Blacks halfback Justin Marshall once describing him as “the best in the world in his position”

Among Genia’s international highlights was scoring the match-winning try in the 2011 Tri-Nations decider against New Zealand, ending Australia’s decade-long wait for the title. His calm authority, precision passing, and ability to dictate tempo made him indispensable to the Wallabies for a full decade.

Despite his Australian honours, Genia never lost sight of his roots. He often spoke with pride about representing not only Australia, but also his birth country, Papua New Guinea, acknowledging the influence of his family and upbringing. His father, Kilroy Genia, served as a Cabinet Minister in Papua New Guinea, while his brother Frank Genia represented PNG internationally with the Pukpuks, making rugby a defining thread in the Genia family story.

When Genia announced his retirement via Instagram, his words reflected gratitude rather than statistics. “From walking into Ballymore at the end of 2006 as a kid, to travelling the world chasing a ball, it has been more than I ever thought it would be,” he wrote, describing a journey filled with shared experiences, lessons learned, and lifelong memories. “Thank you rugby for all the joy. It was always the game and then everything else.”

Tributes flowed swiftly from teammates and rivals alike on Social Media. Quade Cooper, his long-time halves partner and close friend, summed up their journey simply: “What a ride my brother. Who would have guessed way back then.” Former Wallabies captain James Horwill, who shared school days with Genia at Brisbane Boys’ College, reflected on the improbable rise of the little Pooh Bear from BBC who went on to achieve greatness. David Pocock called him “one of the best to do it,” echoing a sentiment widely shared across the rugby world.

While Will Genia’s international career was played in gold, his story began in red, black, and gold — the colours of Papua New Guinea. In that sense, his career stands as PNG’s greatest rugby union export, a testament to talent nurtured in the Pacific and refined on the world’s biggest stages. From Port Moresby to World Cups, Super Rugby titles, and global respect, Genia leaves the game not just as an Australian rugby legend, but as a source of enduring pride for Papua New Guinea.

Well played, Will Genia.