Paul Green’s death cause – last photo on the footy field at State of Origin

Despite losing State of Origin, Paul Green’s final photo as coach shows him beaming and hugging his key players.
Green last coached football during the State of Origin series last year.
The former halfback died on Thursday at the age of 49 in his Brisbane home.


As the footy world mourns Paul Green‘s shock death, emotional photos show the last time he worked as a professional footy coach, beaming and hugging his players.

The former Maroons and Queensland Cowboys coach died on Thursday at the age of 49 at his home in Brisbane.

Green last coached during the State of Origin series last year, when his Queensland team lost 2-1.

Green was seen grinning as he wrapped his arms around captain Daly Cherry-Evans after sealing victory in the dead rubber.

Emotional photos from Paul Green’s final season as a footy coach show the beloved NRL figure beaming and hugging his top players – as the sporting world mourns his unexpected death.

Last year’s final State of Origin round featured a beaming Green during Queensland’s victory over NSW.

Green was only with the Maroons for a year. His contract was not renewed after the 2021 season because he wanted to pursue a head NRL coaching position.

Green stated at the time, “After much consultation and discussion following the Origin series, both the QRL and I have decided to move in different directions.”

‘The reason for this is simple: the QRL wants certainty that the Origin coach will not pursue an NRL head coaching position, and while I could give them that certainty for the 2021 series, I cannot guarantee that this will be the case in the future.’

Green was spotted with Maroons player Christian Welch during the State of Origin series last year.

Green described coaching the Maroons as “every Queenslander’s dream.”

Following the news that Green would be leaving the Maroons, former NRL star Johnathon Thurston stated that the coach should have stayed.

‘The news about Greeny surprised me, and I believe it was the wrong decision,’ she says. Thurston previously told Matty White on Mornings.

‘I believe Greeny could have handled both an NRL club and the Maroons if an NRL coaching position had become available.’

Queensland struggled in the 2021 series, falling to NSW 6-50 and 0-26 in the first two rounds.

Jai Arrow of the South Sydney Rabbitohs was dropped from the Maroons squad after allegedly bringing a woman into the Queensland camp on the Gold Coast in violation of the league’s Covid rules.

He was linked to the Wests Tigers at the end of last season and was expected to join the Dolphins for their inaugural season in the league the following year.


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