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Paul Green carved out a remarkable career in rugby league – first as a player, then from the coaching box.
The highlights are endless, be it winning the Rothmans Medal with Cronulla in 1995, or that unforgettable premiership with North Queensland two decades later.
Green, a married father of two, also piloted the Cowboys to their first piece of silverware, the Auckland Nines in February of 2014 over arch-rivals the Broncos.
It set the tone in Townsville for the following season, where a Johnathan Thurston field goal saw Green’s team again beat Brisbane – this time in front of 80,000-plus fans at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
The epic contest required golden point extra time, with the underdogs winning 17-16 in one of the truly great deciders.
Green wasn’t always in the winning dressing room – in 1997 his one shot at a premiership when lacing up his boots was denied by a red-hot Broncos team.
Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys celebrates with coach Paul Green after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final
Green was close mates with cricketer Andrew Symonds, whose life was cut short earlier this year in a car accident
A Steve Renouf hat-trick saw the men from Red Hill win 26-8, in a stacked team which included the likes of Darren Lockyer, Allan Langer, Brad Thorn, Shane Webcke and Gorden Tallis.
Two years earlier Green snared the coveted Rothmans Medal after a standout season with the Sharks.
Before playing in the previously named Australian Rugby League (ARL) competition, he was also a standout in Brisbane.
In 1993, while on the books of Brisbane Easts, he was the joint winner of the Rothmans Medal alongside Steve Mills from Western Suburbs.
To take home one of rugby league’s highest honours in two states – one in just his second year in first grade against the best players in the world – speaks volumes about Green’s ability.
A fiercely proud Queenslander, Green made his Origin debut during the Super League era – and in 1997 also played for Australia.
Paul Green (pictured left) piloted the Cowboys to their first piece of silverware, the Auckland Nines in February of 2014
A fiercely proud Queenslander, Green made his Origin debut during the Super League era and also featured between 1998 and 2001 (pictured in the 2000 series)
He then chalked up a further four appearances for the Maroons from 1998-2001, scoring one try.
Green went onto enjoy NRL stints with the Cowboys, Roosters, Eels and Broncos before hanging up his boots in 2004 – and it didn’t take long until he turned his attention to coaching.
He was employed by the Broncos as a specialist coach until 2008 – and then took up an opportunity in the Queensland Cup with Wynnum Manly.
Naturally, two premierships followed in 2011 and 2012, with Green then opting to coach the Sydney Roosters under-20s team and be an assistant coach of the NRL side, which won the title in 2013.
The Cowboys came calling the next year and a legacy was created, with a premiership in 2015 Green’s crowning achievement.
Two years later he almost won another premiership ring, guiding the Cowboys from eighth spot to the big dance.
In 2017, Green almost won another premiership ring, guiding the Cowboys from eighth spot to the big dance – they were beaten by a brilliant Melbourne Storm team
Green was renowned for his toughness, often taking on players twice his size (pictured against Bulldogs pivot Braith Anasta in 2001)
A champion Melbourne Storm team proved too big an obstacle to overcome, but even getting his team to be in a position to win minus champion playmaker Thurston was remarkable.
In 2020 he stood down as head coach of the Cowboys after 10 games, but as he did all his life, Green bounced back quickly.
He was appointed Queensland’s coach for the 2021 Origin series – and while the Blues won 2-1, the rapport Green had with his players didn’t go unnoticed.
Green was tipped to be a member of the Dolphins coaching staff next year as they enter the NRL, but now the Wayne Bennett led team will never get the chance to experience the football genius that was Paul Green.
Due to turn 50 next month, Green leaves behind his wife Amanda and two children, Jed and Emerson.
Vale Paul Green, your contribution to rugby league was immense and you won’t be forgotten.