North Queensland Toyota Cowboys and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players will compete for the inaugural Paul Green Medal on Thursday night.
The only premiership-winning coach in club history and Cowboys player No.92, Green tragically passed away in 2022.
The Paul Green Medal will be presented to the Man of the Match, to be judged by the winning Head Coach, each time the Cowboys and Sharks meet moving forward.
After a storied playing career which included 162 premiership games, 35 as a Cowboy, a Rothmans Medal in 1995 while playing for Cronulla and seven State of Origin appearances, Green moved immediately into coaching.
In 2014 he was named Head Coach of the Cowboys and just a year later led North Queensland to its historic maiden premiership in 2015. He also coached the club to NRL Nines titles in 2014 and 2020.
In seven seasons as Cowboys Head Coach, Green won 87 games, the most of any coach in club history.
Green’s son Jed will lead the Cowboys on to the field on Thursday, while daughter Emerson will lead the Sharks out.
Both the Cowboys and Sharks will make $5000 donations to the Australian Sports Brain Bank, which specialises in researching Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy – a brain disorder Green was discovered to have been living with following his death.
“Paul strove for excellence every day of his life – to have a medal named in his honour to be presented to the best player on the field each time our club and the Sharks meet is a fitting legacy,” Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel said.
“Both clubs are committed to raising awareness around CTE as well as helping to raise funds for the Australian Sports Brain Bank in memory of Paul.
“We look forward to hosting the Sharks at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Round 25.”
