Paul Green's wife Amanda breaks her silence after Billy Slater apologised for his shock comments about her husband who tragically died in 2022
Amanda Green, wife of late Queensland coach Paul Green, has lumped praise on Billy Slater for his 'courage' in picking up the phone to apologise to her and her family this week, lauding his 'true character'.
She added that her 'heart breaks for Billy', reflecting on the storm of controversy that has surrounded him this week.
Slater had been in the process of launching a barb back at former New South Wales prop Aaron Woods - who had questioned his character by calling him a 'grub' - but in the process, appeared to link Paul Green's death in 2022 to a mental health issue rather than Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
'Although I might be able to handle [criticism], the next person mightn't be. Maybe our last coach [Green] didn't,' Slater had said.
On Wednesday, which was also Slater's 42nd birthday, the footy coach issued a public apology over the comment.
'I feel terrible about what I said and I spoke to Amanda Green this morning and apologised for any hurt that it may have caused her and her family,' Slater had said.
Green's brother, Rick, had released a statement on behalf of the family earlier this week, in which they accepted Slater's apology, despite admitting the comments were 'unfortunate'.
However, Amanda has now broken her silence on the matter, issuing her sympathies to Slater, stating having been married to a former Queensland Maroons coach, she could appreciate the immense pressures he was under.
'To begin with, I would like to say how very courageous it was of Billy to call me, completely unprompted, yesterday,' Green said in a statement to The Courier Mail.
'My heart breaks for Billy Slater as a partner of someone who has been in his position.
'I completely understand the pressures of the role.
'It shows a lot about his true character and what a fine role model he is for young men. I commend and admire him for that.'
CTE is a brain condition that many athletes who have played contact sports have suffered from in the past.
It is a condition that is thought to be linked with repeated head injuries and blows to the head.
The condition can be slowly progressive and can also lead to dementia, with symptoms including mood changes and personality changes in the early stages of the condition. In the latter stages, memory loss, confusion and some movement issues can all occur.
Green, who is an ambassafor for the Australian Sports Brain Bank - an organisation conducting research into CTE - then added that the events of the past few days showed a huge lack of awareness of this horrific disease.
'This statement is not about rehashing the events of yesterday.
'However, in saying that, yesterday's commentary did highlight to me just how far we still must go in raising awareness and understanding around CTE.
'Paul was diagnosed with Stage Three CTE. Severe CTE. He was living with a very advanced brain disease.
'CTE is a degenerative brain disease found in athletes, military veterans and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma. CTE is caused in part by repeated traumatic brain injuries.
'I now have a responsibility to use my voice to help others, to help those who have lost loved ones, those who are currently struggling themselves or those who are supporting a loved one going through this horrendous disease.
'For me, I could not live with myself if I didn't fight for my children and their sports-loving mates.'
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