Man of the match award for Cowboys-Sharks clashes to be named in honour of Paul Green
A new perpetual award has been announced in memory of the late Paul Green.
The player of the match at games between the Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys will be presented the Paul Green Medal.
Green played 95 games for the Sharks between 1994 and 1998, before leading the Cowboys as coach for seven seasons from 2014-2020, including a historic premiership in 2015.
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Green died last August aged 49. His death has since been linked to Green died last August aged 49, a common injury in contact sports.
The man of the match award at games between the Cowboys and Sharks will be presented the Paul Green Medal. Getty
Green's wife Amanda said the medal would ensure his legacy would live on.
"Paul had so many wonderful connections throughout the game, but it was at the Sharks and Cowboys where he forged deep relationships with both his teammates, club and supporters," she told the Daily Telegraph.
"This will be a wonderful thing for our kids going forward for them to appreciate just how high their dad was held at these clubs.''
During the week leading up to Sharks-Cowboys clashes, both clubs have committed to raising awareness of brain injuries, mental health, and encouraging further research into CTEs.
Although at this stage the only known cause of CTE is repeated head knocks, not everyone who suffers from head knocks will suffer from CTE.
The two sides last met in last season's qualifying final. Getty
Currently, they can also only be diagnosed post-mortem.
There is also a large overlap in symptoms between sufferers of CTE and mental health issues.
Sharks chief executive Dino Mezzatesta said the medal was "befitting of a man who deeply impacted both clubs."
Having last met in the qualifying finals last season, where the Cowboys edged out the Sharks in a thriller 32-30, the two sides first meet this season in round nine in April at Shark Park, and then again in Townsville in round 25.
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