Mark Allan Stewart: NRL manager convicted of drink driving was mourning Paul Green

A successful rugby league manager was in a “state of shock” after the death of his close mate Paul Green, when he was sprung drink driving on a trip back up to Queensland for his friend’s wake.

Mark Allan Stewart, leaving Windsor Local Court on Nov 17, 2022, a manager of rugby league players who lives between Qld and the Hawkesbury, who was convicted of drink driving

A successful rugby league manager was described as being in a “state of shock” after the death of his close mate, rugby league legend Paul Green, when he was once again sprung drink driving by the police, a court heard.

Mark Stewart, 48, who splits his time between the Hawkesbury and Pelican Waters, Queensland, fronted Windsor Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to driving with mid range PCA (second offence) and driving a car during disqualification period.

The court heard Stewart was a close friend of Mr Green and was driving back to Queensland to attend his wake when he was pulled over by police at Bonville, near Coffs Harbour on August 14.

Mr Green was a legendary rugby league player and coach, best known for leading the North Queensland Cowboys to their first ever NRL premiership in 2015. His suicide shocked the sporting world when he was found dead in his Brisbane home on August 11, aged 49.

According to documents tendered to court, when police approached Stewart “intoxicating liquor could be smelt coming from within the vehicle”.

Paul Green in 2015. Picture: Bradley Kanaris.

“At the time of the offence, (his) breath smelt strongly of intoxicating liquor. His face was flushed and his eyes watery and bloodshot … (and) his speech was slow and slurred,” court documents state.

Stewart was subject to a breath test which returned a mid-range reading of 0.123g, a court heard.

According to police facts, Stewart stated he had consumed two schooners of Tooheys beer at an afternoon football match at Forster. He also stated he had drunk a large amount of alcohol the previous evening, the court heard.

Stewart (right) leaving Windsor Local Court with his lawyer.

When checks were conducted on his licence, they showed he was previously convicted for high range drink driving in 2020 at Windsor Local Court.

In court, Stewart’s lawyer said his client’s offending took place while he was grieving the loss of his friend and was frank with police when he pulled over.

The defence said Stewart was driving from Forster in NSW to Queensland to be around friends and family after the death of Mr Green. He also said Stewart had a “successful business in the NRL” as a manager of players.

Magistrate Leanne Robinson said although she understood Stewart was grieving at the time, his actions still placed the community at risk.

“It doesn’t matter much to someone who is injured in a motor traffic accident, so … (your grief) may be a reason why you weren’t thinking clearly … but it doesn’t reduce the risk to the community,” Ms Robinson said.

For his offence, Stewart was convicted, fined $800 and had his licence disqualified for nine months, along with a mandatory interlock order for 24 months.