Rugby League: Green leaves retirement for one last shot at the title

SYDNEY - Plucked from retirement, Paul Green has vowed to make the most of one last chance at an NRL title after being chosen in the Brisbane Broncos squad to play the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday night.

The former Queensland State of Origin star said he might even play again next year if he finished the season on a high, with Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett set to use him at hooker and halfback in the run home to the NRL finals.

But it is more likely Green, who already works as a television commentator, will walk away from the game grateful to have been given another chance.

He announced his retirement after a terrible run with injury, culminating in a broken jaw playing for Parramatta against the Broncos in round seven last year.

"I wasn't happy with the way things finished last year when injury effectively forced me into retirement," Green said.

"I always thought if I was given the opportunity to go out on a good note, I would take it.

"I just have to keep it simple [against the Warriors] and make sure I do my job. I'm really excited. I feel as if I'm starting all over again."

Green, 31, will be the sixth hooker used by the Broncos this year and this will be his fifth NRL club since moving from Brisbane Easts to Cronulla in 1994.

He won a Brisbane title with Easts, but the closest he has come since was the 1997 Super League grand final when he played halfback in Cronulla's 26-8 loss to the Broncos.

Bennett recruited Green as a stopgap measure for the period when the Origin players were away, but he was not required for NRL duty and continued playing for Queensland Cup feeder team Toowoomba.

"I thought things had probably passed me by because I didn't think they were going to drop someone for me," Green said.

But he got his chance after Mick Ryan dislocated his knee against the Sharks last weekend.

Green is set to play off the bench against the Warriors, with Neville Costigan the starting hooker.

Broncos centre Brent Tate caused concern when he went down clutching his knee at training yesterday afternoon, but he finished the session strongly.

Kangaroos prop Shane Webcke is still in doubt and may not return until Sunday week's home match against the Bulldogs.


- NZPA