Our coaching team keeps our Warriors grounded in culture, pride, and identity. They guide our players with wisdom, strength, and heart reminding them they carry their families, ancestors, and Country with them every time they step on the field.

Paul “Thanthida” Coolwell is a proud Gooreng Gooreng, Munanjhalli, and Ghungalu man with South Sea Islander heritage from Tanna Island in Vanuatu. His Gooreng Gooreng name, Thanthida, means “paperbark” and reflects his strong connection to culture and Country.

Based in Magandjin (Brisbane) Paul has always been involved in sport, community, and culture. A former footy player and well known referee, he has officiated Rugby League all along the east coast of Australia, as well as overseas in Samoa, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Fiji for touch football. He has also toured Aotearoa New Zealand as an Australian Over 35s player and referee.

Paul has been part of many major events, including refereeing at the NSW Koori Knockout, where he is respected for both his experience and cultural knowledge.

In 2025 he travelled with the First Nations Warriors rugby union team to Bangkok Thailand. On tour he took on several roles, including Elder in Residence, public relations, coaching support, and cultural guidance. His presence helped the young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players stay strong in their identity while representing their families and communities overseas.

Whether he is refereeing, mentoring, or sharing cultural knowledge, Paul brings pride, leadership, and a strong commitment to supporting mob through sport and culture.

A standout talent from Australian Rugby 7s, Brendan Williams brings speed, skill, and elite high-performance experience to the First Nation Warriors coaching team.

Brendan has represented Australia on the international stage, competing in some of the fastest, toughest arenas in world rugby. His knowledge of elite conditioning, precision, and game awareness gives our players rare insight into what it takes to perform under pressure and succeed at the highest level.

Beyond his playing career, Brendan is a humble and dedicated mentor who leads with respect, cultural pride, and genuine care for the next generation. He has a gift for teaching young athletes how to stay disciplined, work hard, and believe in their abilities — while staying true to who they are and where they come from.

Brendan’s experience, leadership, and grounding make him an essential part of the First Nation Warriors family, helping build strong, confident, and culturally connected athletes ready to represent their communities with pride on the international stage.

Craig Kemp, known by his cultural name Googabinj, is a respected Aboriginal cultural performer and educator whose heritage traces back to the Ghungulu and Iman tribal nations west of Rockhampton. "Googabinj" means Scrub Turkey, his birth totem, symbolising his deep spiritual connection to land, water, and Country.

For over 28 years, Craig has travelled across Australia sharing culture with people of all ages. He plays an important cultural role in his community, passing down knowledge, stories, and traditions to the next generations. As a performer, he blends humour, storytelling, music, and dance to create an engaging and memorable cultural experience.

Craig introduces audiences to Aboriginal culture through the didjeridoo, traditional dances, language, and artefact demonstrations. His style is playful, inclusive, and deeply respectful, always sparking curiosity and pride in young people and adults alike.

As a cultural custodian, Craig reminds audiences of the responsibility to care for Country and protect sacred connections for the future. Highly regarded for his energy and authenticity, Craig brings a powerful mix of culture, teaching, and community spirit.

Craig joins the First Nation Warriors as our Cultural Facilitator, guiding our players with cultural knowledge, grounding them in identity, and ensuring culture stays at the heart of everything we do—on and off the field.