Childhood friend Mark Beitz and Seagulls legend Luke Dalziel-Don pay tribute to Paul Green
Some of Paul Green’s best mates have opened up about conversations they had with the local NRL legend in the days before his death.
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A childhood and best friend of Paul Green has revealed what he and the fallen NRL legend had spoken about just hours before his tragic death, while another friend has told of his last message that hauntingly went unanswered.
Mark Beitz has known Green for more than 40 years after playing in Wynnum Manly junior rugby league’s under-7s team together.
Wearing the Seagulls colours as youngsters was just the start of a lifelong friendship - from going to the same school, taking trips of a lifetime and sharing the ups and downs of their lives and careers together.
Left devastated and shocked by the former Wynnum Manly Seagulls, North Queensland Cowboys and Queensland Maroons coach’s passing on Thursday, Beitz has shared the pair had spoken just the day before about making more memories together.
“(We spoke) Wednesday afternoon and we were talking about a boat we had bought together with a couple of mates,” Beitz, who had also been a supporter of Green through his role as director of Bartons Car Dealership, said.
“He was pretty pumped to be doing this so he could get away on the water and unwind with the family and do some fishing.”
Former Wynnum Manly Seagulls captain Luke Dalziel-Don, who was the skipper under Green when the duo led the club to its first ever back-to-back premierships in 2011 and 2012 and was also close mates with his former coach, also said they were meant to catch up on Thursday.
“Myself, Greeny and Tyson Maher, who used to be a boxer, usually catch up to do some boxing every few weeks in Wynnum and Thursday was that day,” he said.
“Me and Tyson messaged in the group chat but unfortunately Greeny never replied.”
But as they overcome the grief to remember their close friend, the pair both said Green was one-of-a-kind.
“Greeny was the most loyal and honest mates anyone could have,” Beitz said.
“He always kept it real and always called it as it was.
“To the very end he was that person for me that I could tell it the way it was and he didn’t judge - he was a like minded mate and we together had some big dreams for the next chapter in our lives as we entered our 50th year together.
“As a mate he was tough but that hard tough love was what made him the bloke everyone wanted to be with.
“He leaves behind for me and many of us - some very special and amazing memories.”
Beitz said of his fondest memories was travelling to the USA to study at Harvard together.
“We did two trips and a few weeks together over a couple of years,” he said.
“We were so proud to be studying at Harvard in later life as two boys from the bay.
“We copped a lot of flak and banter from our mates about but we didn’t care as we were developing our selves to hopefully make a difference one day with our kids.”
Dalziel-Don, who reached new heights under Green even earning an NRL contract for 2013 with the Brisbane Broncos which was pushed by his former coach, said his former mentor seemed like he was motivated and had a purpose when they saw each other last several weeks ago.
“We had some good banter and good laughs,” he said.
“We hadn’t seen any signs or knew anything about that he was struggling otherwise we definitely would’ve reached out to him and have a conversation with him.
“I think that’s the most important thing that comes out of this … that we have those conversations not just now but continue to have those conversations and ask questions going forward.”
Dalziel-Don said the pair had shared a lot of special memories together, not only during Wynnum Manly’s premierships in 2011 and 2012, but when he was able to celebrate the 2015 NRL premiership with Green and the North Queensland Cowboys.
“I said to Greeny that I was going to leave because I felt uncomfortable because I wasn’t part of the playing group but he and (former Seagull) Jake (Granville) said ‘you guys aren’t going, you’re a part of this just as much as anyone’,” he said.
“So we stayed there until 7am in the morning.
“That’s just the type of bloke Greeny is.
“He is so fair and did so much for me, especially helping me get an NRL contract with the Broncos at 29-years-old.
“Off the field we had so much fun as well, having a few beers and taking the piss out of each other.
“He just had a way of getting the best out of people.
“He was one of the smartest men I’ve ever met, not only in footy but away from it as well.
“He was just such a determined man, when he put his mind to something, he always succeeded, he was so successful.
“But he was just a great mentor, especially for me and helped me become the leader I was.
“He gave us the tools to be better players and better people.”
Dalziel-Don said even with the likes of Wally Lewis, Gene Miles and more stars having an affiliation with Wynnum, there was no bigger name in the area than Green.
“When you think of Wynnum Manly, you think of Greeny,” he said.
Former Queensland Maroons physio Scott Thornton, who was also CEO of Wynnum Manly during the 2012 premiership, said Green would remain a local legend and a friend to many.
“Greeny was an intelligent, articulate and passionate person. He would fight fiercely for his players and wanted everyone around him to enjoy success,” he said.
“Paul was a winner in every respect and we should all celebrate his amazing achievements as he himself would have done.
“The Wynnum community will always love him and the entire Green family.
“My best memories of Greeny was sharing a beer and debriefing after a game. Celebrating the premierships with the entire community, and planning how we could make the Seagulls stronger. He loved the club and loved footy.
“I was fortunate to catch up with him recently at a Seagulls home game where we relived some old times and hopes for the future. I am a better person for knowing him.”
Former Seagulls forward Tim Natush, a member of the club’s back-to-back premierships, said Green was a special type of coach and a quality man.
“Greeny was my first coach at the Seagulls and what a coach he was,” he said.
“From a footy perspective, Greeny had a special ability to dissect a game, an opposition team, or a player to give our team the best game plan to win a game. Everything he told me to do I did. I trusted him whole heartedly.
“Most importantly Greeny was a legend of a bloke. He loved bringing the boys together after games for a cheeky beer or three.
“Greeny cared about his team, his players and the wider community. I will forever look back on my time spent with Greeny and remember all of the laughs and mateship.
“We will all miss you mate.”
Seagulls premiership player and Wynnum Manly cult figure, Peter Gubb, said Green was a hero of his.
“A lot of my life’s highlights aside from come from my first year with Paul at Wynnum,” he said.
“From our first pre-season army-style camp, trial games then seven consecutive wins to start 2012, progressing each week through the finals to win against Redcliffe in the final.
“He is someone I always wanted to make proud and was a bit of a hero to me.”
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