Adrian Coolwell never lost sight of his Wests Brisbane Panthers dream.
It didn’t matter if he was in Milton or if he was running shape in the Panthers’ backline, for Coolwell, it was Red and Black from birth.
You love the Panthers, don’t you?
Absolutely.
My family home is five doors up from Lang Park in Heussler Terrace, so I was only ever minutes away from watching the Panthers’ 1972 team. Their trainer, Leo Boyle, was my friend’s dad, so we’d be in the sheds or on the sideline having the time of our lives.
I loved going to Lang Park in the 1970’s and watching all the grades in a day.
You cared about all the teams so much, if someone was giving it to you at school on a Monday about the A-Grade side losing, I’d tell them we won C-Grade.
I started playing for the Panthers in 1968 and played until 1989, I loved watching players like Twist and Robson, and then later Richardson and Cameron.
Can you remember your Panthers debut?
March 1980 against the Redcliffe Dolphins at Purtell Park.
Bunny Pearce was playing fullback for Redcliffe, they had Obst and Leis and all those stars.
I was supposed to play cricket for Valleys that day, and I had to miss out final to make my debut for Wests.
One of your life goals was to play first grade cricket for Valleys and first grade footy for Wests and you achieved both — that must be a rare feat?
I loved cricket, and I still do; I know John Salter did it as well, he was a very good cricketer.
I got to play for Valleys with the likes of Allan Border, Stuart Law and Kepler Wessels.
Cricket was great because you got to miss pre-season for football.
Who is your favourite cricketer?
Allan Border and Viv Richards.
Both played for Queensland of course.
Who was faster? You or Tony Currie?
TC by a long way.
I was quick, but when TC burst onto the scene in 1981 and won the Rothman’s Medal in 1982 it was from the team coming last.
He was unbelievable.
What would be your favourite Barry Muir story?
Towards the end of my career, I was coming back from injury and you were able to play all three grades then, so I played C-Grade and 20 minutes in reserve grade.
Barry told me that he wanted me playing at front-row in A-Grade against valleys, and he told me ‘go for it’ on the first scrum.
I did my best and got sent off.
How did you end up housing Greg Inglis in 2004?
John Ribot, who is a terrific person, gave me a ring and told me that my family would be a good spot for this kid who’s going to attend Wavell State High and who will play for the Norths Devils.
My sons gained another brother and a lifelong mate in Greg.
We used to sit and watch the three of them, and a neighbour across the road, play football in the front yard. Greg was so talented, he was just doing whatever he wanted.
I remember his first game in Colts for Norths, he scored five tries but it easily could have been seven.
Greg lived with us for 18 months until he finished school, and our job was to provide a safe and loving environment for him.
Who from your Wests days would be a star now?
Norm Carr, his cover defence and fearless work ethic would win hearts in 2025.
I loved playing with Carr.
Did you ever get an offer to leave Wests?
I got interest from the Sharks but I got injured and then that was it, stayed in Brisbane.
How much did you weigh?
80 kilograms, not too big.
I don’t think I’d get a game now.
You had a lot of great coaches at Wests, Raper, Oliphant, Cameron and Muir — what did you learn?
They were all great teachers, you wanted to play for them and do the right thing by them.
I loved all of them, they were all great Panthers too.
Is there a favourite try you have during your days with the Panthers?
I got two against the Seagulls at Wynnum.
I remember Hugh Kelly, the boss of Wests, saying that he didn’t think we’d ever beaten Wynnum at their home ground since the 1970s.
The 1980s weren’t great for Wests, so we were pretty happy to beat them.
Who gave you trouble on the field?
As an 80kg fullback, Gene Miles or Mal breaking the line was not great news for me.
I asked Wests Panthers great Tony Currie who was faster out of him or Coolwell.
“We both went to Kelvin Grove High; I was faster but he killed me at cricket.”
