Coach Green keen on blue sky thinking
JUST when North Queensland thought the Cowboys’ spirit couldn’t get any higher, coach Paul Green took to the skies over Townsville yesterday to contemplate this Sunday’s historic clash.
Swapping his team’s blue and yellow colours for a crisp button- up, Green took a quiet moment to ponder the grand final amid a week of mayhem and nerves.
The coach is just five hours away from attaining his helicopter pilot’s licence, having already earned his fixed- wing licence in his teens.
With a packed schedule of meet- and- greets, training, interviews and coaching the boys this week, Green said his personal flying time was a good way to relax.
“I do it to take my mind off it ( coaching), it’s relaxing,” he said.
While Green could not draw any similarities between coaching the Cowboys and flying a helicopter, he said it was a wonderful way to see Townsville and North Queensland.
“I’ve been flying helicopters just this year,” he said.
“I did my fixed- wing ( licence) when I was about 18 but I haven’t used it much.
“But I got back into it this year. I’ve got about five hours to go.”
Green said he tried to fly at least once a week.
“It has been hard to fit it in this week,” he said. “That’s why today was a good opportunity.”
Green said he had not thought about whether he wanted to buy a helicopter just yet, with his eyes firmly set on attaining his licence – and of course, getting his team to the grand final and another premiership.
“In North Queensland it ( flying) is the best,” Green said.
“There’s so many beautiful spots.
“You can land a helicopter basically anywhere.
“Because I’m still waiting to get my licence, I’ve done a few laps of Magnetic Island, done some whale watching.
“It’s pretty nice and pretty special.
“I’ve had to do 38 hours training because I already have the fixed- wing licence.
“I’ve been inching away at it.”