A shocked Mat Rogers says his former rugby league teammate Paul Green will be remembered as an incredible competitor who never took a backward step.
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The rugby league world is in mourning following the sudden death of 49-year-old Green, who was a playing great and premiership-winning coach.
Rogers spent the past weekend in Sydney with Green at a Cronulla players reunion, with the pair teammates at the Sharks for three seasons from 1995.
They were roommates in the Queensland Super League representative team in 1997 before spending two years together in the Maroons State of Origin side.
The dual international said he and Green played golf and then sat next to each other to watch the Sharks beat St George Illawarra on Friday night.
"It was great - we played golf on Friday together and spent time at the reunion together," Rogers told AAP.
"He was telling me about the new boat he'd just bought for the family and I was looking forward to going for a ride.
"I can't believe he's gone ... it makes me appreciate that time I got to spend with him."
A former winger, Rogers said halfback Green played well above his diminutive size - standing only 167cm.
"We played together for years and he was just an incredible competitor. There was nothing of him and he just never took a backward step."
Rogers said Green had been a sounding board for him recently as he set up his new player management business, while the father-of-two was also an ear for others who needed advice.
"He's just been helpful with a lot of our young players and out of the football world I know other guys have had their troubles and he's been there for them.
"He's just a loved guy, a really good bloke."
Rogers said Green harboured ambitions to return to coaching in the NRL, overseeing the Cowboys until midway through the 2020 season.
He was linked to an assistant position at newcomers Redcliffe as well as other NRL head coach roles.
"He had a lot of ambition to continue on in the NRL path," Rogers said.
"He's proven to be a great coach and he still had plenty of years left in him at that level, but unfortunately we're never going to see it which is really sad."
Australian Associated Press
