Beloved rugby league coach and former player Paul Green has been farewelled today at his first professional club.
Green's public funeral service was held at Kougari Oval, home of the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls.
The former halfback and coach of the North Queensland Cowboys and Queensland Maroons died earlier this month shortly after celebrating his son's birthday.
About 700 people attended the service, including rugby league luminaries such as Johnathan Thurston, Allan Langer, Wally Lewis, Andrew Gee, Shane Webcke, Ben Ikin and Jason Taumololo.
The pallbearers for the service were Green's brother Rick, his friends Mark Beitz and Jamie Fitzpatrick and former teammates Gee, Craig Greenhall and Danny Grimley — with Beitz reading the eulogy.
Speaking before the service, Ikin said it had been a "rough couple of weeks for a lot of people".
"I've known Greeny for a long time and he held a pretty special place in my life, so to get the news that day was devastating.
"And it took a fair bit of time to process."
Ikin said a lot of people would be arriving at the funeral looking to share their grief.
"[There were] a whole lot of people whose lives he touched who loved him deeply.
"I will miss our chats. We used to say we would put the 'scuba gear' on and go deep with our conversations."
Legendary Maroons prop Webcke said Green was a "unique bloke" and an "incredibly talented person".
"There wasn't anything that Greenie attempted that he didn't actually get done," he said.
"He could fly helicopters, fixed-wing planes, went to Harvard, played footy, won premierships, then coached footy and won premierships, so everything he ever wanted to do he was doing.
"There was the bloke that the general public would have seen, but behind all of that there was this wonderful mate that you could rely on."
'The deepest love'
Green's wife Amanda Green and his children Emerson and Jed shared their memories while his brother Rick Green, Lisa Miller and Peta Nash also gave family tributes.
"We had the deepest love and he made me feel deeply loved … we've always been a team," Ms Green said.
"As heartbroken as I am today, I've loved every moment with Paul. I loved you yesterday, I love you today and I will love you tomorrow."
Green's children shared funny videos of their father and a TikTok compilation.
Rugby league Immortal Wally Lewis said he was "gobsmacked" by the news of Green's death.
"If you ever need help, please ask for it. We are big tough footballers but we need help as much as anybody," he said.
"He is a man who will never be forgotten."
Green played 162 games in first grade, primarily with the Cronulla Sharks and the Cowboys, before coaching North Queensland to the 2015 premiership, and another grand final in 2017.
He coached the Queensland Maroons in the 2021 State of Origin series and at the time of his death was in talks to decide on his next role.
He also represented Queensland and Australia as a player.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk paid tribute to Green in parliament this morning.
"To his family, he was a husband, a father, a son, and a brother," she said.
"Whenever we lose someone who was in the public eye, we all feel it.
"But nothing can compare with the pain of Paul's family and his closest friends.
"As people gather today for a service and public memorial, I offer my deep sympathy and that of the government."
