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A former halfback who won the Rothmans Medal with Cronulla in 1995 as the competition’s best and fairest player, he made 162 top-grade appearances for the Sharks, Cowboys, Eels, Roosters and Broncos in a high-level career from 1994-2004.
Green was due to celebrate his 50th birthday a month from tomorrow.
He became a successful coach, starting out in the Roosters’ lower grades before taking over at North Queensland in 2014 and guiding the club to its only premiership in history the following season in the memorable Grand Final win over Brisbane in extra time.
His reaction in the coaches box at Sydney’s Olympic stadium, hugging his assistants with unbridled joy, when Johnathan Thurston slotted over the match-winning field goal to win the first golden-point Grand Final is an iconic moment in NRL history.
A colourful character who was intense as a coach, he pledged to ‘‘walk nude through Pitt Street’’ if the NRL could prove a contentious Kieran Foran try was legitimate in 2014 after a controversial loss to Manly.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Green passed away suddenly at his Brisbane home on Thursday morning and a cause of death is yet to be known.
He has been regularly linked to a return to coaching at various NRL clubs this year. Green was in Sydney only last weekend for the Cronulla ex-players’ reunion.
Interviewed as he walked around Shark Park before the club’s win over the Dragons with a bunch of former teammates and fellow old boys, Green said: “It’s great to be back, it’s a terrific night and a great crowd and it’s good for Shark Park, let’s hope the footy’s great.
“Plenty of good memories and great to catch up with all the old boys today. It’s been a ton of laughs and really well done by the club.”
His former teammate, Martin Lang, posted on social media: “This is so sad. Paul was a close mate, we moved to Sydney together in 1993….the beginning of an outstanding NRL playing/coaching career.
“My sincere condolences to Paul’s wife, children and his dear mum and dad. Rest In Peace mate.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also paid tribute by posting on Twitter that she was “shocked and saddened to hear of Paul Green’s death. Deepest condolences to his friends and family”.
Maroons legend Cameron Smith said it was a tragedy to lose Green so young.
“He was a premiership coach of course with the North Queensland Cowboys in 2015,” he said on SEN Radio. “It’s a very sad day for all involved with the rugby league family and the rugby league community, and we send our condolences out to the entire Green family.”
Smith’s co-host Denan Kemp also paid tribute to Green with the pair having spent time together at the Broncos and Wynnum Manly in the QRL.
“I was fortunate enough (to know Paul), he was my kicking and catching coach when I was coming through at the Broncos,” Kemp said. “He was also my coach when I was at Wynnum, I had a small amount to do with him … he’s a fighter. It’s a very sad day, a very, very sad day.”
After finishing as Cowboys coach in 2020, he took over as Queensland coach the following year but resigned after one series to concentrate on the search for another full-time NRL position.
In total, he was in charge of the Cowboys in 167 games.
Born on September 12, 1972, he was one of the shortest players in the first grade in the 1990s but he made up for his lack of size by being one of the most creative halfbacks in the competition.
He was pivotal in Cronulla’s rise under coach John Lang to being a finals force alongside Mitch Healey in the halves with the likes of Andrew Ettingshausen, David Peachey, Mat Rogers and Jason Stevens.
Green represented Queensland in three matches in the 1997 Super League tri-series as well as two internationals for the rebel national team and also played for the Maroons in seven Origins from 1999-2001.
After taking up a lucrative offer to join the Cowboys in ’99, he spent two seasons at the club before stints with the Roosters, Eels and Broncos.
“We are deeply saddened at the tragic passing of Queenslander and former Bronco, Paul Green,” the Broncos tweeted. “A legend on and off the field gone far too soon.”