After the two clubs came together to honour the memory of a former Sharks player and Cowboys NRL premiership winning coach, it was Nicho Hynes adjudged a worthy winner of the inaugural Paul Green Medal.
Hynes accepted the Medal from Green’s wife Amanda and children Emerson and Jed for his standout performance in the Sharks 44-6 win over North Queensland back in round 9.
Now a second player will take away the Paul Green Medal, newly struck in a design featuring Green’s likeness which is set to be delivered in Townsville by the Sharks prior to the game on Thursday, with the award recognising the contribution he made to both clubs.
The man named by the winning coach as their team’s best will be presented the award, with the Paul Green Medal to be awarded each time the Sharks and Cowboys meet.
Shark #290, Green played 95 games in the black, white and blue, while later becoming a premiership winning coach at the North Queensland Cowboys. As was well documented, 12 months ago the rugby league world was left shocked when Green passed away, aged 49.
When the medal match was confirmed back in August last year, Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta described at the time that the introduction of the Paul Green Medal was "befitting of a man who deeply impacted both clubs.''
"When we (Sharks) first raised the idea with Jeff (Reibel, North Queensland CEO) about the Cowboys and Sharks coming together to honour one of our most loved coaches and players, we immediately agreed that our head-to-head games were the perfect opportunity to make sure we forever honour Paul,'' Mezzatesta said.
"We wouldn't do this without Amanda's blessing. Graciously, she accepted the gesture knowing what impact the Paul Green Medal will have for Emerson and Jed.
"Our coach Craig Fitzgibbon and his assistant Josh Hannay are deeply connected to the Green family through previously working with Paul, which gives us great confidence that the players will appreciate how special winning the Paul Green Medal will be.''
After the first Paul Green Medal match was at PointsBet Stadium, the Cowboys now have their opportunity to return serve in hosting the second installment, with the Sharks to take on North Queensland on Thursday night in a game crucial to the Finals hopes of both clubs.
