Brayden Wiliame wouldn't be on the cusp of making history as Canterbury's foundation NRLW coach if not for a selfless gesture from the league's other new franchise.
Wiliame has been on a "crash course" in head coaching since being parachuted into the Bulldogs' top job in April, just three months out from their first premiership game against Newcastle on July 5.
The Bulldogs were on the hunt for a new coach following the abrupt departure of Blake Cavallaro, whose resignation came amid reports of an undisclosed relationship with a club staffer.
There was a roster already being built, led by Cronulla stars Tayla Preston and Holli Wheeler, it just needed the right mentor.
It was then that the chief executive of the NRLW's other new franchise, the Warriors, put in a call to Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould.
Warriors boss Cameron George had been impressed by Wiliame since he transitioned from the club's playing roster to a joint role in wellbeing and as a NSW Cup assistant coach.
"He cares about the player, cares about the person and their family, and he knows his footy," George told AAP.
"For me, he's got it all."
George knew Wiliame had been hoping to return to Australia for family reasons, so suggested he meet with Gould.
Three days later, the trio were catching up for coffee in the Sydney beachside suburb of Brighton-Le-Sands.
When the Bulldogs were keen to sign Wiliame, who had a year to run on his Warriors contract, George never thought to stand in the 32-year-old's way.
"That didn't cross my mind one bit,'' George said.
"The thing that crosses my mind is trying to help him get into a good system because you want to see him succeed.''
Wiliame only began his coaching journey last year, so knows he has plenty to learn.
"It's one thing knowing how to do it, it's another being able to explain it so that everyone understands. That's probably been my biggest work-on," he told AAP.
"It is a bit of a crash course, but the thing I always fall back on is that people go to uni when they finish school for their degree, this is what I've been doing my whole life."
The playing group is picking up what Wiliame is putting down, finding particular value in his recent playing experience.
The outside back's injury-stricken NRL career only came to an end in 2023.
"He's brought a lot of fun, and brought his game knowledge too. He's only fresh out of the game, so for us we're able to pick his brain," co-captain Preston told AAP.
"He's been unreal. He's just such a genuine person."
There's just one condition for Wiliame when his Bulldogs face the Warriors, returning for their first season since leaving the competition amid COVID-19 restrictions in 2021.
"I told him he's got to stand down six players when he plays against us, give them a rest that week," George joked.
"I'm looking forward to that opportunity to play them."
