Green’s personal rewards

TWO NRL Nines titles, two grand finals and a maiden premiership, but among it all the unseen moments have meant the most to Paul Green.

Tonight against the Warriors in Gosford, the Cowboys coach will head up to the box for his 162nd game in charge, surpassing the late Graham Murray’s club record.

Green is the most successful coach in North Queensland’s 25-year history and the only one to have a winning rate above 50 per cent, but it is not the on-field glory or the milestone achievements that have driven the former player.

It is the personal milestones of his own men, the growth off the field, that Green says he has been “privileged” to be part of.

“There have been lots of highlights (in my time) and it is not just about the big games you win,” he said.

“Giving guys their debuts. The last two weeks – giving Tommy Gilbert his debut, that was a really special moment for him, and this week it is Hamiso (Tabuai-Fidow).

“When you get to tell those kids they have been picked in the team, and they will make their debut, they are really great moments because you are sharing a really special moment for someone you coach.

“For me that is really why you do coach – to try to help them, to use the experience I have had as a player.

“I have been in the game for pretty much my whole life so I try to help them as much as I can. That is why I decided to coach in the first place.

“Those are the really rewarding parts along the way.

“You know how hard guys work to get an NRL game. To play one is a huge achievement … you see boys grow into men, become husbands and fathers, and you hope in some small way you have been able to help along the way.”

There is no denying, however, the competitive streak is alive and well in the 47-yearold mentor.

From his early playing days in the Brisbane Rugby League, where he won the Rothmans Medal with Easts in 1993, through to his seven games for Queensland and 192 in total for five NRL clubs, Green always had the drive to be successful. That success has followed him into coaching.

He took childhood club Wynnum Manly to back-to-back Intrust Super Cup titles before becoming an assistant to Trent Robinson and helping the Roosters clinch the 2013 premiership.

That was his first and only year as an NRL assistant coach. The next year he was at the Cowboys.

That punt on an untried coach has paid off in spades, Cowboys director of football Peter Parr believes.

“We had some outstanding candidates at the time, Paul included,” Parr said.

“For the panel, we thought his communication and the way he explained things was really good.

“The one thing I will say about Paul, even from that interview process, was that he has great clarity when he talks about anything but especially football.

“You never leave a conversation with him confused. Obviously it was a decision that we certainly don’t regret.”