George Green

Who is George Green?

Edward George Green, is reputed to have been the first Indigenous Australian to play rugby league at first-grade level in Australia. He played for the club sides Eastern Suburbs and North Sydney, in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership.

A utility forward, Green made his debut playing for the Eastern Suburbs club in 1908 season, rugby league's founding year in Australia. He played in the Eastern suburbs side in 1911, the year that club won their first premiership. He moved to the North Sydney club the following year where he played out the remainder of his top-grade career. In 1916 Green Captained the North Sydney club and was a vice-captain with the club in its only two premiership winning seasons – 1921 and 1922.

Green, who has been described as "scholarly" and "trend-setting" was a crowd favourite, a whole-hearted player who often came up with an important play at vital times in a match. Both on and off the field Green is described as being a gentleman.

Green was made a vice president of the North Sydney club. Following his retirement from the major rugby league competition in Australia, Green spent time coaching the Cessnock club in rural New South Wales.