Stacey Jones
A dazzling playmaker nicknamed 'The Little General,' he orchestrated New Zealand's rugby league fortunes for a generation with his fearless creativity.
Born 1976 (age 50)·NZ international rugby league footballer and coach·Birthday: May 7·Generation X
Biography
Stacey Jones emerged from the small town of Huntly to become the heartbeat of New Zealand rugby league. His professional career, primarily with the Auckland Warriors, was defined by a rare combination of grit and guile; a slight figure who played with monumental courage, directing play with a sharp football mind. He carried that commanding presence onto the international stage, becoming the pivotal figure for the Kiwis for over a decade, including a memorable man-of-the-match performance in the 2002 Rugby League World Cup semi-final. After hanging up his boots, Jones transitioned into coaching, applying his deep understanding of the game to mentor the next generation, eventually ascending to the role of head coach for the national team, tasked with recapturing the magic he once provided on the field.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Stacey was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Stacey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Stacey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2002 Rugby League World Cup Golden Boot award as the best player in the world.
- Played 46 test matches for the New Zealand Kiwis, serving as captain for many years.
- Became the first player to win the New Zealand Rugby League Player of the Year award three times (1999, 2002, 2005).
- Inducted into the New Zealand Rugby League Legends of League in 2007.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'The Little General' was given for his small stature and commanding on-field leadership.
He made his NRL debut for the Auckland Warriors at just 18 years old.
Jones played a season for the French club Les Catalans in the Super League.
He is of Māori descent, affiliated with the Ngāti Maniapoto iwi.
“You play for the jersey and the people who believe in it.”
