NRL legend Paul Green had an advanced brain disease at the time of his tragic suicide

Green, who was found dead at his home in Brisbane on August 11, was suffering from an advanced form of CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy).

CTE is a neurodegenerative disease that can affect athletes who have suffered repeated concussions and blows to the head during their careers in contact sports such as rugby, wrestling and American football.

His widow Amanda made the decision to donate the 49-year-old’s brain.

Ms Green said the diagnosis had given her daughter Emerson, 13, and son Jed, 10, “peace” and “relief”.

“I was able to sit Jed down and explain, ‘Dad had a sick brain, that’s why he did what he did,'” Ms Green said.

She was able to give Emerson an explanation that made more sense than what had been repeated – that he had taken his own life due to depression.

“Now she realizes that he wasn’t in that place and there was nothing we could do because he was sick.”

Green had a distinguished career as a player, making more than 150 NRL appearances for a host of clubs, including Cronula, North Queensland and the Roosters. An intelligent midfielder, Green played 95 games for the Sharks and was with the Roosters when they won the 2002 premiership.

The footy legend also played seven State of Origin matches for Queensland, as well as three additional matches for the Maroons during the Super League war.

Green finished his NRL career with the Broncos in 2004 before moving into coaching. His greatest achievement was leading the Cowboys to their first premiership in 2015 when they defeated Brisbane in one of the most thrilling grand finals in history.

Green also coached Queensland in 2021 when they lost the series 2-1 to New South Wales.

After seven years in charge of North Queensland, he was succeeded by Todd Patten at the end of 2020. Green’s name has been floated as a potential mentor by a number of NRL teams who have parted ways with their coaches this year, including the Wests Tigers, Bulldogs and Warriors.

Originally published as Paul Green’s family have broken their silence on the NRL star’s death