Anthony Minichiello endorses Paul Green as the next coach of the North Queensland Cowboys Paul Green coaching Wynnum-Manly. FORMER Australian fullback Anthony Minichiello has offered a glowing endorsement of Paul Green, saying the former Maroons halfback is tailor-made to coach the Cowboys. A 14-year NRL veteran, Minichiello has developed under the tutelage of some of the code's leading coaches, including Wayne Bennett, Ricky Stuart and the late Graham Murray. But the Roosters custodian has a genuine respect for Green's coaching ability and believes he has the drive and ambition to break North Queensland's 18-year premiership drought. The Cowboys are tipped to announce Neil Henry's successor within the next 14 days, with Roosters assistant Green and Newcastle rival Rick Stone believed to be frontline contenders. Others to have reached the final round of interviews include Broncos legend Kevin Walters, Brisbane assistant Kristian Woolf and one-time Eels caretaker Brad Arthur. Just turned 40, Green is building an impressive coaching portfolio. He won back-to-back titles with Wynnum-Manly in the past two years before joining the Roosters this season, steering the under-20s to a current finals campaign in third spot. Minichiello said if there is one NRL coaching greenhorn with the ability to thrive in North Queensland, it is Green. "He would do a great job," he said. Paul is very thorough, he does a great job with our under-20s. He has great knowledge, but his man-management is also very good. I actually played with Paul when I first started at the Roosters (Green played 20 games for the club in 2001-02). I'm not surprised he's become a good coach. I was surprised by the knowledge he had when he first signed with the Roosters. I'd rather he stay here, but he'd definitely be an asset for the Cowboys. Green is contracted to the Roosters until the end of 2014, but the club will happily formalise a release if the 1995 Rothmans Medallist secures the Cowboys job. The veteran of 10 Origin matches recently told The Courier-Mail he had found a niche in coaching and believes his decade-long NRL career helps him understand players" needs. "I would like to think I can have an influence on players" lives. I know when I had a coach that I got on well with, it helped me in other areas of my life," he said. There has always been that desire to be coach of an NRL team. When I first retired, you aren't sure what you want to get into. I did a bit of commentating for a couple of years, which was good, but coaching is something that appeals to me. Having played certainly helps. I've been through it all, I've seen it all, the highs and the lows. You can empathise with the players and understand what they are going through. I was lucky to have some good support around me at Wynnum and they were ready for success. The time was right for me to go back into an NRL system and I'm fortunate to be given a chance at the Roosters. That's the hardest thing, for people to have faith in you and give you that chance.