Paul Green funeral service: Legendary player and coach farewelled by family and friends
Paul Green’s wife Amanda and two children delivered the most moving tributes, including a touching TikTok compilation of their late husband and father. WATCH THE VIDEO
‘The memories will never die’.
With those words on the back of his eight-page service memorial, the rugby league fraternity and wider community said farewell to Paul Green, the footballing legend hailed as the “light that shone brightly”.
More than 700 guests attended Kougari Oval, the home of Green’s beloved Wynnum Manly rugby league club, on Tuesday to pay their homage to a man who pursued success, achieved excellence, and leaves behind a catalogue of indelible memories.
The Australian sporting world was plunged into shock three weeks ago following the death of Green, who tragically took his life at age 49.
Amid the shock, Tuesday’s funeral and public memorial at Kougari, the scene of some of Green’s most treasured life memories, was a heartbreaking, touching, emotional, yet fitting snapshot of the Queensland great’s legacy.
A who’s who of sporting champions were on hand to say goodbye to ‘Greeny’.
It included Wally ‘The King’ Lewis, fellow NRL Immortal Mal Meninga, AFL icon Leigh Matthews, Roosters coach Trent Robinson, current Cowboys mentor Todd Payten and Broncos legends Steve Renouf, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Kevin Walters, Shane Webcke and Ben Ikin.
The soldiers of the Cowboys team which delivered the club’s maiden premiership under the tutelage of Green in 2015 were there, headlined by Jason Taumalolo, Kyle Feldt, Ethan Lowe and his halfback commander Johnathan Thurston.
His coffin was carried by six men: Green’s brother Rick and his closest mates Mark Beitz, Jamie Fitzpatrick, Danny Grimley and former NRL hardmen Andrew Gee and Craig Greenhill.
But amid the tears, touching tributes and momentary laughs at fond times, it was the words of wife Amanda that painted the picture of not just a successful player and coach, but a loyal mate and committed father.
“I loved you yesterday, I love you today and I will love you forever,” said Amanda, flanked by the couple’s children Emerson, 13, and Jed, 10.
“The day Paul proposed to me, I clearly remember him saying, ‘You better strap yourself in babe, this is going to be one hell of a ride’.
“What a ride it has been.
“All life’s challenges we navigated together. We were a team and we made decisions that were best for our team. He was a natural when it came to parenting.
Paul Green’s wife Amanda has delivered the most moving tribute to her late husband as family and friends remember the legendary player and coach.
— Courier Mail Sport (@cmail_sport) August 30, 2022
Pictures from the service: https://t.co/bBOWY77XFjpic.twitter.com/dTDjE93KJ5
“I feel incredibly blessed to have been married to Paul for the past 15 years. He truly was the most amazing husband who I will miss dearly. We had the deepest love and the happiest marriage and he always made me feel truly supported.
“His communication was one of the many attributes I admire about him.
“He had this ability to clearly deliver a message and inspire people from all walks of life. He had an ability to captivate people no matter his audience.
“Paul and I met the day he arrived in Townsville to play for the North Queensland Cowboys in 1998.
“We were introduced at the Mad Cow, the venue for all good relationships in Townsville. We connected instantly. I knew from that moment there was something special about this man. He was engaging, intelligent, cheeky and so much fun.
“As heartbroken as I am, I am equally grateful for every moment we had together.”
Brother Rick added: “We had so many memories ... he was a light that shone brightly.”
Green’s mate of 40 years Beitz recalled the motto of their former school at Manly West - deeds not words.
It was the perfect summation of Green’s portfolio in rugby league.
He was a doer, a chaser of excellence, a Rothmans Medal winner and 162-game NRL halfback who would become a titan of coaching, winning back-to-back titles at Wynnum Manly in 2011-12 and becoming just the 12th man to take charge of the Queensland Origin team last year.
But it was North Queensland’s epic extra-time defeat of the Broncos in the 2015 grand final, breaking a 20-year premiership drought, that is regarded as Green’s finest hour.
“He won the first premiership for the Cowboys and he will always be gold to the people of North Queensland,” Lewis said.
“When we heard the news of Paul’s passing it was a shock to everyone.
“I am still gobsmacked he is no longer with us.
“I still remember some people questioned if he would make it as a coach but I never had any doubt he could make it.
“He was one of the toughest, most tenacious players I saw.
“He is a man who will never be forgotten.”
Sometimes intense, always passionate, innately driven, he found a pressure valve flying planes and channeling Vanilla Ice as he sang Ice Ice Baby at karaoke sessions.
Fittingly, the song was played one final time to honour Green as a catalogue of family photos were screened to an audience that included packed public grandstands at Kougari.
Green’s long-time friend and former Broncos teammate Ikin paid tribute to his character.
“It has been a tough couple of weeks,” Ikin said.
“It was very devastating. We arrive here to share our grief with people who loved him dearly.
“Paul will be remembered as a guy who thought deeply, who cared deeply and you felt that in his company.
“I always felt when Paul engaged in conversation, he cared about what you thought and said. And that part of his character enabled him to inspire a group of men at the Cowboys to their premiership in 2015.
“I will miss our chats. We used to say we would put the ‘scuba gear’ on and go deep with our conversations.
“We have lost a great friend. It doesn’t matter how successful people are and how you think they are going, ask are you OK and be there for your mate.
Legendary Broncos prop Webcke remains shocked by Green’s passing.
“Greeny was a unique bloke,” he said. “He was a very talented bloke. He could fly planes, fix things, coach football teams to success, but behind that he was a wonderful mate you could rely on.
“He was unique. For a young person who aspires to achieve anything in life, you can look at Paul Green as an example.
“His legacy will be many things. For me I will be forever sad I don’t have a mate to have a yarn to anymore.”
Green’s family and friends were never surprised by his successes. They recalled a man who didn’t give 100 per cent to a project; rather 110 per cent.
“He was the absolute perfectionist,” Beitz said.
“Paul was the smartest man I ever met. He finished school with a score of 990, which was the highest score you could get.
“Our Manly West school motto was ‘Deeds Not Words’.
“That was Paul. He would often remind us of that phrase and he lived his life by it.”
Green’s two children delivered a brave, tear-jerking address, vowing to uphold their dad’s legacy.
“My dad was my biggest supporter,” Emerson Green said.
“He taught me many lessons, not just in sport but in life.
“He always knew what to say and when to say it.
“Most importantly, he taught me that it doesn’t matter what other people think of you.
“Dad loved to bust a move, he was always ready to sing and dance even if we were out in public.
“He always encouraged me to be the best version of myself, that’s when you can achieve success.
“I was always your little angel, but now you are mine.”
Jed added: “Thank you for being the best dad ever.
“I loved jumping on the trampoline with you, playing footy and soccer, going fishing and making backyard bonfires with you.
“He was silly sometimes, and that’s why he was the best.
“I am going to miss you so much.”
HOW PAUL GREEN’S SERVICE UNFOLDED
Green’s wife Amanda, flanked by children Emerson and Jed revealed how the pair met in 1998 before delivering a touching tribute.
“We were introduced at the Mad Cow, the venue for all good relationships in Townsville,” Amanda quipped. “We connected instantly. I knew from that moment there was something special about this man.
“The day Paul proposed he said to me you better strapped yourself because it’s going to be one hell of a ride, and that it was.
“We had the deepest love and he made me feel deeply loved ... we’ve always been a team.
“As heartbroken as I am today, I loved every moment with Paul. I loved you yesterday, I love you today and I will love you forever.”
Emerson and Jed then shared a hilarious videos and TikTok compilation.
Mark Beitz said his great mate, “LPG or Little Paul Green”, could be summed up in three words.
“Loyalty Paul’s his key trademark and it was a word he lived by everyday,” Beitz said. “He was a perfectionist and he was just about perfect at everything he did.
“And intelligence. Deeds not words - this is what Paul lived by.
“To Emmy and Jed, dad’s looking down on you today and is extremely proud of you both.”
Before Father Michael Twigg’s final prayer, a picture compilation of Paul Green’s life was played to various songs including, Frank Sinatra’s My Way, Great Balls of Fire and Ice Ice baby.
Pallbearers Andrew Gee, Craig Greenhall, Danny Grimley, Rick Green, Mark Beitz and Jamie Fitzpatrick carried Green’s casket out of the service to the recessional song, Shallow.
Australian sports journalist Pat Welsh opened proceedings before Bette Midler’s The Rose was played.
RUGBY LEAGUE GREATS ARRIVE
Some of the biggest names in rugby league have started arriving at Kougari Oval ahead of the 11am service, with 700 guests packing into Wynnum’s BMD Kougari Oval.
Early arrivals at the service included former Cowboys football boss Peter Parr and CEO Greg Tonner along with 2015 premiership players Jason Taumalolo, Ethan Lowe, Kyle Feldt and Jake Granville.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson arrived to honour his former assistant coach.
Other rugby league legends in attendance are John Lang, Steve Renouf, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Todd Payten, Neil Henry, Brad Thorn, Kevin Walters, Brad Fittler and Bryan Fletcher.
PALLBEARERS, WHO WILL SPEAK AT MEMORIAL SERVICE
Paul Green’s former NRL and ARL teammates Andrew Gee, Craig Greenhall and Danny Grimley, along with brother Rick, and friends Mark Beitz and Jamie Fitzpatrick will be the pallbearers at the funeral service.
Green’s wife Amanda and children Emerson and Jed will share memories of their husband and father before Beitz’s Eulogy.
Rick Green, Lisa Miller and Peta Nash will follow with family tributes.
‘LOVED HIM DEARLY’: LEGENDS PAY TRIBUTE
Green’s long-time friend and former Broncos teammate Ben Ikin paid tribute to his character.
“It has been a tough couple of weeks,” he said.
“It was very devastating. We arrive here to share our grief with people who loved him dearly.
“Paul will be remembered as a guy who thought deeply, who cared deeply and you felt that in his company. I always felt when Paul engaged in conversation, he cared about what you thought and said. And that part of his character enabled him to inspire a group of men at the Cowboys to their premiership in 2015.
“I will miss our chats. We used to say we would put the ‘scuba gear’ on and go deep with our conversations.
“We lose a great friend today. It doesn’t matter how successful people are and how you think they are going, ask are you OK and be there for your mate.”
Legendary Broncos prop Shane Webcke remains shocked by Green’s passing.
“Greeny was a unique bloke,” he said. “He was a very talented bloke. He could fly planes, fix things, coach football teams to success, but behind that he was a wonderful mate you could rely on.
“We once took him to the farm and he was terrible. He was under the illusion he was a farmer, he once wanted to go into sheep together and I said I don’t know.
“He was unique. For a young person to aspires to achieve anything in life, you can look at Paul Green as an example.
“His legacy will be many things. For me I will be forever sad I don’t have a mate to have a yarn to anymore.”
Maroons legend Wally Lewis says Green will never be forgotten.
“When we heard the news it was a shock to everyone. If you ever need help, please ask for it. We are big tough footballers but we need help as much as anybody,” he said.
“I am still gobsmacked he is no longer with us.
“I still remember some people question if he would make it as a coach but I never had any doubt he could make it.
“He was one of the toughest, most tenacious players I saw.
“He won a premiership for the Cowboys and he will always be gold to the people of North Queensland.
“He is a man who will never be forgotten.”
PICTURES: PAUL GREEN’S FUNERAL SERVICE
GREEN’S LAST ORIGIN GIFT TO TOWNSVILLE
- Travis Meyn
Paul Green delivered the North Queensland Cowboys their first NRL premiership – and Townsville its only State of Origin game.
He parted ways with the Cowboys in 2020 following seven years, but Green wasn’t done with bringing joy to Townsville.
On the day of his death, it was revealed that Green was the key figure in Townsville hosting a State of Origin game for the first time in 2021.
As Covid ripped through the eastern seaboard last winter, it was becoming increasingly unlikely that the MCG would be able to host Game One of the series.
The NRL started to become nervous about the match and Green – preparing for his first series as Queensland coach – sensed an opportunity to deliver Townsville a piece of Origin history.
“He was the one that was most instrumental in getting that game to Townsville,” QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher recalled.
“Rob Moore (former QRL CEO), Paul and I were in the back of a cab going to a meeting and he said ‘you guys haven’t done enough to get Origin to Townsville, this is the perfect opportunity’.
“I texted the Premier (Annastacia Palaszczuk) and said we have to get active on this. She replied within 20 seconds and said ‘great idea’.
“The rest is history. It’s remarkable, everything else flowed from his push for it. That was Greeny.
“The odds are we won’t see another Origin game in Townsville.
“He had a passion for the game and state. He lived the values.”
On the back of Green’s push and with the help of the Queensland Government, the first game of the 2021 Origin series was played at a sold-out Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.
FUNERAL SERVICE BACKGROUNDER
Fittingly, the celebration of Paul Green's life is being held at the home of the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls, where he first made a name for himself as a player and later a premiership-winning coach.
Green, 49, who guided the North Queensland Cowboys to a historic maiden premiership in 2015, took his own life earlier this month in a tragedy that rocked the league world as well as the wider community.
Green was celebrating his young son’s birthday party just 24 hours before he died.
Paul’s brother, Rick Green, is expected to speak on behalf of the family shortly before the service begins.
Close friend of Green, Mark Beitz said up to 500 people were expected to attend.
Mr Beitz said a “who’s who” of rugby league royalty was expected to speak at the service, with mates including Allan Langer, Andrew Gee, Shane Webcke and 2015 Cowboys premiership hero Johnathan Thurston in the mix.
Other speakers are expected to include Mick Power, of construction giant BMD with whom Green was very close.
Beitz added that Green’s wife Amanda was “still in shock” but was focused on supporting their children, Emerson and Jed.
“The kids are her absolute priority, as well as making sure Paul gets the send-off he deserves,” he said.
GREEN LEAVES A LEGACY
A 162-game first grader, Green had a fine career as a player with Cronulla, North Queensland, the Roosters, Parramatta and Brisbane.
But arguably his most memorable moment came in the coaches’ box at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium in 2015 as he piloted the Cowboys to their first NRL premiership.
Michael Morgan’s remarkable last-second flick pass for Kyle Feldt’s try, and then Johnathan Thurston’s golden point field goal, delivered North Queensland its first NRL title.
Green’s reaction in the coaches’ box has featured heavily on NRL highlight reels in the seven years since.
The scenes in Townsville have never been seen before as the Cowboys returned to a heroes’ welcome and the party lasted for weeks in the league-mad town.
Despite his two best players in Thurston and Matt Scott being injured, Green coached the Cowboys to another NRL grand final in 2017, where they lost to the Melbourne Storm. He parted ways with the Cowboys in 2020 following seven years, but Green wasn’t done with bringing joy to Townsville.
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