Paul Green’s high school sweetheart shares heartbreaking tribute to rugby league legend

Paul Green’s high school sweetheart shared a heartbreaking tribute to the former rugby league coach after his tragic death rocked the NRL community this week.

The 49-year-old was found dead at his home in Brisbane Thursday morning, the day after her son’s ninth birthday. It has been confirmed that he committed suicide.

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The Mail Mail reports that Green called his longtime friend and manager George Mimis at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday to talk about his son’s birthday celebrations.

The News Corp publication also reports that the footy legend’s wife, Amanda, found him unresponsive at their home after he returned from doing pilates at the gym.

Green’s death comes 11 months after he was sacked as head coach of the Maroons following Queensland’s loss in last year’s State of Origin series, which included a 50-6 win for the Blues.

Speaking on Gold Coast’s 92.5 Triple M Breakfast, radio announcer Ali Plath held back tears as he mourned the loss of his first love.

“My heart breaks today for his wife Amanda and his beautiful children and obviously his parents and four siblings,” she said.

“Paul and I went to high school together, he was my first love. You only have one first love.

“We were together when I was in 12th grade for a year and then broke up. I had kids with (former partner) Mark and when that didn’t work out Paul and I got back together.

“We then did nine years of on and off, long distance, de facto…I guess we were that couple that I think our family and friends were so much happier than we were when we finally broke up .

“Paul was a wonderful father-in-law to my two older children, Jesse and Jake, when we were all living together in Sydney, when I finally had the courage to move them.

“For him to swallow his pride and I guess take my kids under his wing, I really didn’t appreciate how important that was at the time. It’s a big responsibility to take on someone else’s family.

“Paul was extremely loyal, he was very smart – even though I told him I was smarter than him. When I was in 12th grade, he was two years older than me and he blamed me for not doing my homework.

“He just had such a great sense of fun on top of being so capable. If Paul said to you, “I’m going to be a pilot,” (you knew) he was going to be a pilot. And he did – he was a commercial pilot.

“My mum let him take me to Hervey Bay in that mosquito plane when he was doing his training. That’s how capable Paul was. You trusted him, you knew he could do it, I didn’t never doubted him.

“He was just one of those people you knew you could rely on. (As an NRL player) he was one of those players you could count on and he would give everything.

“I can’t believe he did this, I can’t believe this happened.

“It’s not Paul. I am in fact in complete and utter shock. I only spoke to him a few months ago.

“It’s horrible.”

Meanwhile, Green’s family are still coming to terms with the footy legend’s passing and have revealed plans to celebrate his life.

Green’s brother Rick said The Sunday Mail the family had gathered to plan a public funeral, which was due to take place on August 23 or 30 at Kougari Oval, home of the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls, a team with which Green played and coached to the glory of the premier.

But Rick also revealed the family struggled to come to terms with the huge loss.

“Everyone feels overwhelmed,” he said The Sunday Mail.

“There are certainly many stories we share about our times with Paul, but as we reflect on those good times, there is great sadness at his passing.

“It’s still very raw and difficult to process.”

The family previously released a statement following news of Green’s death.

“Today we are devastated,” the statement began.

“We have lost a devoted husband, a loving father and a wonderful brother and son. We cannot find the words that would come close to expressing our feelings, but we would like to express our thanks to those who reached out to us. hand with their love and support.

“Paul was loved by so many and we know this news will be of immense interest, but at this time we ask for confidentiality.

“Our family is still trying to come to terms with this tragedy and we ask for space and time to deal with this loss. Thank you.”