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Clive Palmer will bear the majority of the costs from his defamation battle with Mark McGowan but West Australian taxpayers remain on the hook for some expenses.

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee on Thursday ordered Mr Palmer to cover the costs of the WA premier's cross-claim from December 22 last year, around when the billionaire had rejected his rival's offer to settle the proceedings.

He ordered that both parties cover their own expenses incurred prior to that date.

Mr McGowan, whose trial barrister Bret Walker SC is reported to charge up to $25,000 per day, on Thursday told parliament he didn't know the full amount but there would be some cost to taxpayers.

Justice Lee last week found Mr Palmer and Mr McGowan had defamed each other in 2020, when they feuded over Western Australia's COVID-19 response and a damages claim involving one of Mr Palmer's mining projects.

He ordered Mr Palmer to pay $20,000 to Mr McGowan, who was in turn directed to pay $5000 to the Queensland businessman.

In a letter sent to Mr Palmer's lawyers last December, Mr McGowan's legal team proposed discontinuing the proceedings with both sides bearing their own costs.

Mr Palmer did not respond to the proposal, the court heard.

Justice Lee said the billionaire had been obliged to resolve the proceedings as quickly as possible, having launched them in the first place.

"The notion that Mr Palmer and Mr McGowan are equally responsible for these proceedings having consumed significant private and public resources cannot be reconciled with the objective facts," the judge said.

"Both men went too far in their political jousting, and both men litigated, but only one was willing to draw back and avoid a long and costly hearing."

It should have been evident in December that the cost of the litigation was "disproportionate to any benefit it was likely to produce", Justice Lee added.

Mr Palmer's lawyer Barry Dean earlier said the offer had been made late in proceedings and would have deprived his client of the court's vindication.

"The main point is that ultimately my client did succeed on his claim," Mr Dean told the court.

Mr Palmer had sought up to $30 billion in damages over a 2012 decision by the former Liberal state government not to assess his proposed Balmoral South iron ore project.

The McGowan government in 2020 rushed through extraordinary legislation to block the claim.

Speaking under parliamentary privilege on Thursday, Mr McGowan claimed Mr Palmer had sought to "force his hand" through the defamation lawsuit.

"His real frustration was my government's legislation that stopped him taking us for $30 billion," the premier said.

"I believe his real motivation was to get billions of dollars from taxpayers ... by the construct of suing me for defamation."

The premier added that the $20,000 in damages he had been awarded would be returned to state coffers.

Justice Lee last week found Mr McGowan's insults against Mr Palmer - including labelling him an "enemy of the state" - were not trivial but ultimately caused very little damage to his reputation.

Mr Palmer's attacks on Mr McGowan had probably only enhanced the premier's reputation and popularity within his home state, the judge said.

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The rugby league world is in mourning following the shock loss of premiership-winning NRL coach Paul Green, with police confirming no suspicious circumstances in his death.

The 49-year-old died at his Brisbane home on Thursday morning, with tributes pouring in from heads of state, past and present NRL players, clubs and officials.

Green's devastated family released a statement on Thursday.

"We have lost a devoted husband, loving father and wonderful brother and son.

"We cannot find the words that would come close to expressing our feelings, however we would like to extend our thanks to those who have reached out to us with their love and support.

"Our family is still trying to understand this tragedy and we request space and time as we come to terms with this loss."

NRL club North Queensland said their premiership-winning coach was one of the most influential figures in Cowboys history.

"Paul first came to our club as a player in the late 90s and was the club's first Origin representative, but his lasting legacy emanated from his seven-season tenure as head coach of the North Queensland Cowboys," said club chairman Lewis Ramsay.

"Paul's arrival as head coach transformed our club from finals contenders to an immediate premiership force, culminating in the historic 2015 grand final victory.

"We will forever remember Paul as one of the greatest contributors in Cowboys history."

A star in his own right as a player, Green notched 162 games across five different clubs as a halfback, five-eighth and hooker while also playing seven State of Origins for Queensland.

Green also won the 1995 Rothmans Medal as the league's best and fairest player.

But he will forever be remembered as the man who helped guide North Queensland to their maiden premiership in 2015.

In total, he was in charge of the Cowboys in 167 games with the 2015 title coming in just his second season as head coach.

He left the club in 2020 and took over as Queensland's State of Origin coach last year.

When he resigned from that job last September, it appeared certain he would resume his days as an NRL coach.

He was linked to Wests Tigers at the end of last season and Wayne Bennett confirmed on Thursday he was to be offered an assistant role at the Dolphins next year.

Beyond those still at North Queensland, he has coached several players across the game who began their careers in Townsville or played for the Maroons last year.

On Thursday night alone, Cameron Munster, Xavier Coates and Viliame Kikau were among those due to take to the field just hours after learning of their former coach's death.

Green was in Sydney only last weekend for the Cronulla ex-players' reunion, a club where he played 95 games before moving north to the Cowboys.

He was also a part of the Sydney Roosters' 2002 premiership-winning squad, before finishing his playing days at Parramatta and Brisbane.

Michael Morgan, who played five-eighth in the Cowboys' premiership win, said Green was "more than influential" in his career.

"You grow up playing (rugby league), you think you know everything but he just opened up a whole new world to the actual knowledge of the game for me," Morgan told Triple M.

"I've never been able to thank him enough."

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys said his thoughts were with Green's family and friends.

"I had the pleasure of sitting on the NRL Competition Committee and found Paul to be a passionate, smart and witty individual. Our condolences go to his family and to his many friends," V'Landys said.

The Roosters and Broncos also passed on their condolences to Green's family and said they were deeply saddened to hear of his passing.

Green is survived by wife Amanda and children Emerson and Jed.

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Manly Sea Eagles hooker Manase Fainu will remain on bail over the weekend after being found guilty of stabbing a church youth leader in a brawl outside a Sydney dance.

The 24-year-old pleaded not guilty to wounding Faamanu Levi with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at Wattle Grove late at night on October 25, 2019.

In his evidence to the District Court jury, he denied being the stabber saying when he heard "knife knife" he ran away scared for his own safety.

But the jurors took just over two hours to return a guilty verdict on Thursday afternoon, prompting prosecutor Emma Curran to apply for immediate detention.

Judge Nanette Williams adjourned the application until Monday because of the late hour and because Friday's industrial strike by prison officers would mean he couldn't be taken into custody if she so ruled.

Fainu's barrister Margaret Cunneen SC opposed the application saying he had not breached any bail conditions over the last three years.

"This obviously will be appealed as a perverse verdict in view of the evidence," she said.

Noting it would be surprising if full-time custody was not imposed, the judge ordered Fainu to report to police daily, live with his parents and not leave the address without one of them, and not contact any witnesses.

Tony Quach testified to seeing Fainu plunge a steak knife into the back of Mr Levi in the car park brawl, referring to him looking angry and wearing a sling.

The jury was told the footballer had recently undergone shoulder surgery and had his arm in a sling that evening.

The stabbing occurred after an earlier fight on the dancefloor of the alcohol-free charity event organised by the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

Ms Cunneen had submitted that in the heat of the moment, with the darkness, chaos and speed of it unfolding, the jury could not be certain who stabbed Mr Levi.

But they could be certain the NRL hooker, never before in trouble for any violence, did not, she said.

The jurors were told Fainu and his friend Uona Faingaa known as "Big Buck," were involved in the dancefloor fight and ushered outside by Mr Levi who told them not to fight on church grounds.

CCTV footage showed Fainu with a white towel draped over his head and his four friends jumping back over a fence and into a car park where the brawl occurred with Mr Levi.

Ms Curran contended that when things looked like they were getting out of hand, Fainu pulled out the knife and plunged it into Mr Levi's back.

"Not content with having stabbed him once ... (Fainu) moved around to the front of Mr Levi and swung the knife upwards towards (his) face cutting him across the eyebrow.

"Then he ran back to the car."

Another witness involved in the brawl told the court that he saw a male in a sling approach his brother holding a knife.

"The accused was the only person in a sling. And a sling is quite a distinctive feature," Ms Curran said.

She argued that Fainu was an unimpressive and evasive witness who gave contradictory and occasionally fanciful answers.

She asked the jury to reject such evidence including his reason for scaling a three-metre tall brick fence to get back onto the church grounds, rather than entering through the front gate, because "it was easier".

He told the jury the white towel draped over his head was a "security blanket" doused in cold water because he had a headache, not to hide his identity.

Fainu also denied holding, seeing, or knowing of a weapon being brought that evening.

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Tributes are flooding in for premiership-winning NRL coach Paul Green following his sudden death at the age of 49.

Green passed away at his Brisbane home on Thursday prompting an outpouring of messages and tributes from heads of state, friends and NRL players and clubs.

Green was in charge of North Queensland when the Cowboys won their maiden premiership in 2015 before coaching Queensland in 2021, with both club and state extending their condolences to his family and friends.

"Paul's arrival as head coach transformed our club from finals contenders to an immediate premiership force, culminating in the historic 2015 grand final victory," said Cowboys chairman Lewis Ramsay.

Long-time friend Martin Lang wrote on Twitter about the time when they moved to Sydney together in 1993 ... "the beginning of an outstanding NRL playing/coaching career," he said.

Former premiership-winning halfback Michael Morgan told Triple M Green's influence as a coach was second to none.

"He was more than influential, he helped me carve out the career that I did have," Morgan said.

"It's no coincidence once he took over that he gave me an opportunity at fullback, it's a position I'd never played in before and taught me, and I said it throughout my career when he unfortunately moved on from the Cowboys how much he taught me about the game.

"You grow up playing it, you think you know everything but he just opened up a whole new world to the actual knowledge of the game for me.

"Never been able to thank him enough."

Mat Rodgers, his former teammate at Cronulla, said Green was always a fierce competitor across his 162-game playing career and his small stature never impeded his ability.

"We played together for years and he was just an incredible competitor. There was nothing of him and he just never took a backward step," Rogers told AAP.

Cowboys co-captain Chad Townsend took to Twitter to extend his condolences.

"RIP Paul Green. Thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time," he said.

Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V'landys said his thoughts were with Green's family and friends.

"I had the pleasure of sitting on the NRL Competition Committee and found Paul to be a passionate, smart and witty individual. Our condolences go to his family and to his many friends," he said.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said on behalf of the league there will be many current and former players hurting due to the impact Green had as a coach and mentor.

Former NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said: "I enjoyed some time with him recently & he was in great spirits and looking forward to the next phase of his life. Tragic news. Sending love & best wishes to his family."

The Roosters and Broncos both passed on their condolences to Green's family and said they were deeply saddened to hear of his passing.

Two of his former clubs also sent their condolences.

"The extended Roosters family are deeply saddened to have lost Paul Green, a Rooster for life. Our thoughts are with his family. A Rooster for life. Forever #Rooster998," the club tweeted.

"We are deeply saddened at the tragic passing of Queenslander and former Bronco, Paul Green," the Broncos tweeted.

"A legend on and off the field gone far too soon."

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was shocked and saddened to hear of Green's death and passed on her deepest condolences to his friends and family.

© AAP 2022