Rugby league player and former Queensland State of Origin coach Paul Green passes away at the age of 49.

 Throughout his career, Green represented Queensland and Australia.

In 2015, he coached North Queensland to a premiership.

After learning of the premiership-winning coach Paul Green's passing at the age of 49, the NRL is in disbelief. Green is said to have passed away on Thursday morning at his Brisbane home, and an autopsy will be performed.

Green, a standout athlete in his own right, played halfback in 162 games for five different clubs and seven State of Origin matches for Queensland. five-eighth, and hooker. Green was also the league's best and fairest player in 1995, earning the Rothmans medal.

But he will always be known for his role in leading North Queensland to its first-ever title in 2015. He oversaw the Cowboys in 167 games in all, winning the 2015 championship in just his second season in that role. He left the squad in 2020, and the following year he was hired to coach Queensland's State of Origin.

When he resigned from that post in September of last year, it seemed inevitable that he would go back to his time as an NRL coach. Wayne Bennett revealed on Thursday that he has been given an assistant position at the Dolphins for the next season. He had been connected to the Wests Tigers at the close of the last campaign.

In a statement, Green's family expressed their shock at his passing.

We lost a loyal husband, a devoted father, a fantastic brother, and a beautiful son. Although we are at a loss for words to even begin to convey how we feel, we would still like to express our gratitude to everyone who has shown us love and support.

We want time and space as we come to grips with this loss since our family is still trying to comprehend this catastrophe.

The NRL will be hard-hit by Green's passing. Beyond those who are still playing for North Queensland, he has coached several players who started their careers in Townsville or competed for the Maroons the previous season. Cameron Munster, Xavier Coates, and Viliame Kikau were due to play only hours after learning of the death of their old coach on Thursday night.

Green joined the Cowboys last season after playing 95 games for Cronulla, and he was only in Sydney last weekend for the club's ex-players reunion. He played on the 2002 Sydney Roosters premiership squad before finishing his playing career at Parramatta and Brisbane.

The Australian Rugby League Commission's Peter V'landys sent his sympathies to Green's friends and family.

In a tweet, the group stated, "Forever #Rooster998.

"I had the pleasure of working with Paul on the NRL Competition Committee, and he is a passionate, intelligent, and entertaining individual. We send our sympathies to his family and all of his friends," he stated.

After learning of Green's passing, the Roosters and the Broncos both expressed their grief and conveyed their condolences to his family. The loss of Paul Green, a Rooster for life, has left the whole Roosters family inconsolable. We are praying for his family. Forever a Rooster.

The Broncos stated, "We are very grieved by the unfortunate demise of Queenslander and former Bronco, Paul Green." A legend both on and off the field who passed away far too young.

Green is survived by his wife Amanda, his kids Emerson and Jed, and himself.