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How rugby league legend Shane Webcke shaped Paul Green’s stellar coaching career with a BRUTAL camp at his farm in the Queensland bush
- Queensland legend Shane Webcke held a bush training camp at his Leyburn farm in 2010
- Green credited part of his side’s back-to-back Queensland Cup premierships to the harsh preparation
- The brutal boot camp broke a Wynnum Seagull player’s arm after a tough railway sleepers relay
- If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
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Maroons enforcer Shane Webcke took Paul Green under his wing before his illustrious coaching career began in the Queensland Cup, helping him put his Wynnum Seagull players through the ringer at his brutal bush farm camp.
Green coached the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in 2011 and 2012, leading the side to their first and second titles in back-to-back years.
Queensland Police were called to Green’s family home in Wynnum, in Brisbane’s east, just after 10am on Thursday after he was found unresponsive in his garage by his wife, Amy.
His death aged 49 sent shockwaves through Australian sport.
Green later agreed that Webcke – who was once his Brisbane Broncos teammate – gave him a great start in his coaching career by running the training sessions to help him out.
Webcke (L) and Green (R) pass over a railway sleeper as they reenact the Wynnum Seagulls training camp 12 years ago
Webcke hosted the first-grade squad at his Leyburn property, 200km west of Brisbane in late 2010.
‘Twelve years ago I took my little mate (Green) and his Wynnum side for a camp on this property, and proceeded to flog them,’ Webcke told 7News .
‘Some of the activities were, well… ill-advised.’
Webcke made the squad compete in a relay by carrying heavy railway sleepers, with one player breaking his arm during the exercise.
‘Those sorts of camps, it’s about when you’re under the pump, helping each other out, that’s what Origin for Queensland is built on,’ Green said.
Supercoach Paul Green hoists the Intrust Super Cup high after leading the Wynnum Seagulls to their first premiership in 2011. He backed up his success with another premiership in 2012
The two first met at a Sydney Roosters trial in 1990, as Green vividly recalled the moment Webcke kicked the small halfback off the top bunk in camp.
Webcke played 21 Origin games in a 254-game rugby league career that earned him three Dally Mprop of the year awards.
Green and Webcke played alongside each other in Queensland’s 1999 State of Origin team, with Green starting at halfback as he made his debut in game two.
Webcke and Green talk over a XXXX beer before the Wynnum local coached the Maroon’s in their 2021 series loss
Wynnum CEO Tom Solah said Green was a pivotal character in turning the club’s fortunes around.
‘As a former player and dual premiership coach he will always hold a special place in the hearts of the Seagulls club, its players and supporters,’ he said.
‘Paul and his family have been stalwarts of rugby league on the Bayside for decades and his love and commitment to the Club has never wavered.’
Paul Green (to the left of the boy holding the football) played for the Wynnum Seagulls at age seven, growing up to coach the club in 2011 and 2012
Green’s success at Queensland Cup level earned him a role as Trent Robinson’s assistant at the Roosters in 2013 – with the Tricolours winning the grand final 26-18 over Manly.
He went on to sign as head coach for the North Queensland Cowboys in 2014, leading the club to their inaugural premiership in 2015 beside captain Johnathan Thurston.
Johnathan Thurston and Paul Green celebrate in awe after the Cowboys win their first ever NRL grand final in 2015 against the Broncos
Wayne Bennett recently revealed that Green was in talks to join his coaching ranks at the Dolphins for the 2023 season.
His shock passing on Thursday morning sent immense sadness through the rugby league world, with tributes flowing in for the 49-year-old father of two.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636