An emotional Johnathan Thurston reveals he is ‘sad’ and ‘angry’ following Paul Green’s death

An emotional Johnathan Thurston has opened up about the “tough few days” he has experienced following the sudden death of rugby league star and premiership-winning coach Paul Green.

Green passed away suddenly at the age of 49 on Thursday, August 11 in his Brisbane home.

Thurston, who played in Green’s 2015 premiership win for the North Queensland Cowboys, revealed to 100% Footy that Green’s sudden passing “is still pretty raw” and that he is still trying to comprehend the loss.

“It has been a tough few days for everyone,” Thurston said.

“A range of emotions going through me each and every day playing with the kids and thinking of the good times I had with Greeny.

“It is sad, I don’t know how it came to this. I have been lucky to have a good support crew around me to help with this.

“It is difficult. It has been difficult on a lot of people, obviously. Still trying to get my head around it.”

Vale Paul Green.

The Rugby League community has lost a legendary player and coach today.

Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the countless fans who loved him. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/dUeUc4sPEL

— NRL (@NRL) August 11, 2022

Despite the tragic loss and the difficulty that Thurston has experienced he found some solace in the good memories that he shared with Green over the years, particularly Green’s go-to karaoke song.

“He’d get a few under his belt and start singing Ice Ice Baby,” he said.

“He loved to bring people together, loved to be the life of the party whether it be for a barbecue, a glass of red or down the park with the kids, he loved being around people.

“He was a very considerate person, always wanted to know what you were doing and how you were feeling.

“He had a massive heart on him. He was a high achiever in his life. Still quite difficult to understand how this has all unfolded.”

Thurston joins a devastated rugby league community in mourning the sudden death of Green whose stellar playing career included taking the field an incredible 162 times with a number of clubs which included the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels, and the Brisbane Broncos.

He also represented Queensland in seven State of Origin games and played two matches for the Australian Super League team in 1997.

Following Green’s impressive playing career he turned his attention toward coaching after his retirement, where he famously led the North Queensland Cowboys to their first Grand Final in a decade. The Cowboys went to win the final with a 17-16 win over the Brisbane Broncos.

The monumental win made Green the first coach in history to defeat the Brisbane Broncos in a Grand Final.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by nqcowboys (@nqcowboys)

It was recently revealed that the sporting icon will be farewelled in a public funeral to celebrate his life and incredible sporting achievements.

The public funeral is expected to be held towards the end of August, either on the 23rd or the 30th. The event will reportedly be held at Kougari Oval, the home ground of the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls where Green played as a junior and where he would later return as a coach to lead the Seagulls to Queensland Cup premierships in 2011 and 2012.

“It will be a celebration of the awesome life Paul lived and the wonderful things he did for people,” Green’s brother Rick told The Sunday Mail.

Green is survived by his wife Amanda and two children Emerson and Jed.

If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline — 13 11 14; MensLine Australia — 1300 789 978; BeyondBlue — 1300 224 636; Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467; Headspace — 1800 650 890; Kids Helpline — 1800 551 800.