Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys pay emotional tribute to Paul Green as late footy legend’s widow watches on before NRL clash
Paul Green’s widow, Amanda, watched on as Cronulla and the Cowboys paid tribute to the footy great before their NRL match on Thursday night.
Green was found dead at his home in Brisbane on August 11 last year after taking his own life, and had been suffering from an advanced form of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).
CTE is a neurodegenerative disease that can affect athletes who endure repeated concussions and head knocks during their careers in contact sports such as rugby league, combat sports and American football.
The 49-year-old delivered North Queensland’s only premiership back in 2015 and is fondly remembered as a footy legend by the NRL world.
Green quit as the Cowboys’ coach in 2020 but was still highly rated in the league and was due to be an assistant to Wayne Bennett with the Dolphins this year.
Paul Green’s widow Amanda (left) presented a medal in the rugby league legend’s honour
Green died last August, leaving behind his two kids and a shell-shocked NRL community
The 49-year-old delivered a premiership for the Cowboys and starred for the Sharks
As a player, he starred at halfback for the Sharks from 1994 to 1998, guiding them to the 1997 Super League grand final.
Green went on to play for the Cowboys, Roosters and Eels in a first-grade career that spanned 10 years and ended in 2004, racking up 162 games with 37 tries to his name.
The diminutive half played seven State of Origin games for Queensland from 1998 to 2001 and played two matches for the Australian Super League team in 1997.
His stellar coaching career began with the Cowboys in 2014 and the next year he guided the club to their only premiership, a thrilling 17-16 victory over the Brisbane Broncos in extra time.
Green coached Queensland’s State of Origin team for one series in 2021. When he resigned from that job last September, it appeared certain he would resume his days as an NRL coach.
He was linked to Wests Tigers at the end of last season and was expected to take on a role at the Dolphins next year.
Green’s death still hits the NRL hard.
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More to follow.
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