North Queensland Cowboys appoint Paul Green as head coach, with Brad Arthur missing out

PAUL Green was resigned to staying at the Roosters next season because North Queensland officials were confident of signing Wayne Bennett.

Paul Green pictured at North Qld Cowboys Dairy Farmers Stadium. Picture: Cameron Laird

NEW Cowboys coach Paul Green was resigned to staying at the Roosters next season because North Queensland officials were confident of signing Wayne Bennett.

That was what Green told Roosters officials just three days ago, with the Roosters under-20s coach of the firm belief that Bennett would take over the Cowboys next season.

But following Bennett’s declaration of loyalty to Newcastle on Monday, Green was ushered back into the equation as the successor to Neil Henry.

Green was on Tuesday formally unveiled as Cowboys coach for the next two seasons after rival contenders Brad Arthur and Kevin Walters were on Tuesday advised they had missed out on the coveted post.

Green has support in high places at the club, with Cowboys board member Ben Ikin and chairman Laurence Lancini both strident fans of his coaching ability.

The rising coach is presently involved in the Roosters’ grand final preparations and declared he is ready to step up as the main man in Townsville.

"I am thrilled to get this chance," he said.

"I would like to think I can have an influence on players’ lives. I know when I had a coach that I got on well with, it helped me in other areas of my life.

"To be able to have that influence on someone really appeals to me.

"I’ve always wanted to be a head coach in the NRL and now I have that chance with an outstanding football club that already has a high-quality playing roster in place.

"I’ve been in a number of different roles along the way and I think they will have prepared me well for what’s ahead.

Paul Green has won the race for the NQ job.

"I’m looking forward to getting to work as soon as I can and start the process of getting the team ready for 2014."

Manly assistant Arthur on Tuesday night confirmed The Courier-Mail’s exclusive online report, saying: "It was a 50-50 chance, but they feel Greeny’s the best person for the job."

But the machinations surrounding Bennett remain intriguing. On Monday, the master coach insisted he did not apply for the Cowboys post, nor was he interviewed, but Bennett did not specifically address whether he was approached by the club.

The Courier-Mail subsequently discovered the Cowboys had indeed sounded Bennett out via a club representative eight weeks ago following Henry’s axing.

Based on Green’s sentiments last weekend, it is possible Bennett privately expressed interest in the Cowboys, only to backflip - as he did in 2006 when his planned move to the Roosters collapsed.

Paul Green pictured at North Qld Cowboys Dairy Farmers Stadium. Picture: Cameron Laird

It is a career coup for Green, who lacks NRL experience but possesses the work ethic, talent and ambition to break the Cowboys’ 18-year premiership hoodoo.

"As everyone is aware, we undertook a very thorough process with filling our coaching vacancy and Paul proved to be the outstanding candidate in a very high quality field," Cowboys CEO Peter Jourdain said.

"Paul has a fantastic resume and his presentations and discussions with us proved that he has the abilities and qualities we were looking for.

"We strongly believe he is the right person to take our club to the next level of performance and our ultimate goal - winning our first premiership.

"He has had a great grounding starting with his playing career then being an assistant coach under Wayne Bennett at the Broncos, two premierships with Wynnum-Manly and then being part of the Roosters under Trent Robinson this year."

Green possesses an impressive footballing portfolio. He played 162 NRL games at five clubs, including the Broncos and Cowboys, and won the 1995 Rothmans Medal at Cronulla before playing 10 Origin matches for the Maroons between 1997-2001.

The former halfback has since made waves in coaching circles, winning back-to-back titles with Wynnum Manly in 2011-12 before steering the Roosters under-20s side to this year’s finals.

Green’s chief rival Arthur, who is helping the Sea Eagles prepare for the grand final was left lamenting his near miss.

"I’ve got a good job where I am, it would have been nice to coach the Cowboys but it’s not to be," Arthur said.

"They didn’t tell me Greeny got the job, but I was of the belief it was between me and him and I’ve missed out."