Legendary coach and player Paul Green dies

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The rugby league world is in mourning today following the news of the passing of former NRL player and coach Paul Green.

The Daily Telegraph reports Green passed away at his home in Brisbane on Thursday morning. He was 49. A post-mortem will be carried out to determine his cause of death.

Green coached the North Queensland Cowboys between 2014 and 2020 - winning the club's inaugural premiership in 2015 - before taking over as Queensland State of Origin coach for the 2021 series.

Before his coaching career, he played 162 first grade matches, starting at Cronulla in 1994, before moving to the Cowboys in 1999 for two seasons. In his later years as a player he had stints with the Roosters and Eels, finishing his playing career with the Brisbane Broncos where he played just five matches.

He represented the Maroons on 7 occasions and also played 3 Super League Tri-Series matches for Queensland, and two Super League internationals for Australia in 1997.

Green is survived by his wife Amanda and two children - Jed and Emerson.