To conclude the This Week in History series, we look back at a very special moment: the night Shark number 290, Paul Green, became the sixth player in the club's history to win the coveted Rothmans Medal.
John Lang's arrival at Cronulla in 1994 marked a pivotal moment. The Sharks had been struggling since their last finals appearance in 1989, and a period of transition under Arthur Beetson had seen the departure of several key players, including Gavin Miller, David Hatch, Michael Speechley, Barry Russell and Alan Wilson.
Lang, however, didn't arrive at Cronulla empty-handed. He brought with him a number of players from the Queensland Rugby League competition, among them Green.
"Well, he's a nuggety type, typical in many respects of most halfbacks, but if he is like anyone, it is Alfie (Alan Langer). He did win Queensland's Rothmans Medal and I believe he will do well in Sydney football," Lang said.
"He isn't coming here on any great contract, in fact it's pretty modest. But he deserves to have a crack at this football."
A solid pre-season saw Green edge out incumbent Mitch Healey to claim the No.7 jersey for the opening-round clash with the Canberra Raiders. Green's impact was immediate, the side beating arguably the team of the '90s 24-16 at Caltex Field.
Remarkably, Green played 22 matches in his first season in the NSWRL, a testament to his durability and tenacity. He polled well in all the major individual awards, running third in the Rothmans Medal behind David Fairleigh and Steven Menzies. Green's form earnt further recognition at season's end when named in the Kangaroos train-on squad.
It was the following season that Green announced himself as one of the premier halfbacks in the NSWRL competition. Along with halves partner Healey, Green led the Sharks to a top-four finish.
However, the crowning moment of the season came during this week – September 5, 1995 – when Green was awarded the Rothmans Medal. Green polled 24 votes, three clear of Canberra's David Furner. Manly's Menzies and an up-and-coming Andrew Johns tied for third with 20 votes. The win saw Green become the first player to win the Sydney and Brisbane Rothmans Medals, having won the award in 1993 while playing under Lang at Brisbane Easts.
The Rothmans Medal was the first official player-of-the-year award to be established in rugby league in Australia voted upon by the referees. The medal was sponsored by Rothmans International, a tobacco production company. There were two Rothmans Medals awarded each year: one for the best player in the New South Wales Rugby League, and one for the best player in the Brisbane Rugby League.
While many were surprised at Green's award, John Lang wasn't. "I've been coaching Paul for a number of years now, and the thing that impresses me most about him is his toughness. If he gets hurt, he'll play through it and never complain. A couple of times this year he got split right open, yet he wanted to get straight back out there. He is a real professional competitor."
Following Cronulla's defection to Super League, Green was selected for Australia as a reserve in the 1997 ANZAC Test, before representing Queensland as a replacement in three Super League Tri-series matches. At the end of the season, Green was chosen as halfback in the return Test against New Zealand in September, but an injury kept him out of Australia's tour of Great Britain.
After missing just one match in four seasons, a serious shoulder injury restricted Green to four matches in 1998, and at season's end Green departed the club. In the years that followed Green became somewhat of a journeyman, playing at the North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels and Brisbane Broncos. Green retired in 2004 having played 162 first-grade matches.
Post playing career, Green coached the North Queensland Cowboys to their maiden title in 2015.
Green tragically passed away in 2022. To honour his contribution to both the Sharks and Cowboys, on each occasion the teams meet, the player judged the player of the match is awarded the Paul Green Medal.
In closing out the series, I wish to give thanks to a few people who have contributed in parts to helping me recount some of the great moments in the club's history, including fellow Sharks enthusiast Mark Wise and NRL stats guru David Middleton.
Finally, I wish to thank the players and family of those featured in the series who made themselves available, often at short notice, to give insight and background into the careers and events that have shaped this amazing club.
FACT FILE: PAUL GREEN
Born: 12 September 1972
Position: Halfback
Playing weight and height: 80kg (12st 8lb); 167cm (5ft 6in)
Years at club: 1994-98
Sharks player no: 290
Games for club: 95 in first grade
Debut: Round 1 Saturday 12 March 1994 against Canberra at Caltex Field
Statistics for Cronulla: Scored 102 points in first grade
Representative: Queensland (1997, 1999-2001) - 10 games, four points; Australia (Super League 1997) - two games, no points
Other clubs: North Queensland (1999-2000 - player No.92) - 35 games, 28 points; Sydney City (2001-02 - player No.998) - 20 games, 25 points; Parramatta (2003 - player No.646) - seven games, no points; Brisbane (2004 - player No.134) - five games, no points
