Brad Thorn - a modern day sporting freak

wouldnt go round for some eggs if I was you

Actually, my friend lived next door to Jake the Muss. No kidding. Greg speaks the truth.

thanks god you dont live next to Jake the muss. Brad Thorn the best covert ? i would have thought big willie mason could give him a challenge if he converted. ...yeah ok im joking.

My next door neighbour in NZ made the whales in Whale Rider.

Let me guess Greg - Your next door neighbour worked on the set of Lord of the rings? Am I right?

The best thing about Thorne's reported devotion to religion is that I had not ever heard him mention it, in the way that most US Christian athletes thank the Lord after a victory. It speaks to the man that he is devout and yet does not shout it from the roof. Greg please do tell the great man that he is much admired this side of the ditch.

Somewhere between a population of 4 million and 20 million, a country changes from being little to being big. So New Zealand is little whereas Australia is big. Thus in NZ things like this happen to you: Brad Thorn lives in the street next to mine, and my daughter has just started at school in the same year as Brad's eldest son, Brendan (who apparently has already shown himself to be outstanding at school sports). If I see Brad I will tell him that he has an army of fans at The Roar. I will also warn my daughter not to mess with BT Jr at playtime!

LOL Didnt want to start a discussion on the merits of Botha vs Thorn, I would just say they are both integral to their teams success. Just making a point that each teams enforcer is off pitch a different persona I respect a majority of the opposition players but for some reason Nonu is losing mine. Maybe its the eyeliner or the De Wet Barry/Butch James no arms head high tackle style he is developing

Rusty - Don't put Botha on the same plane as Thorn. Thorn is a true hard nut who gives it and takes fairly and without complaint. Botha is a cheap-shot merchant who squels innocance when he is occasionally caught out. thorn is a great player and easily my favourite AB (or as a Wallaby supporter does that make him my least hated :))

on another angle - interesting to note that arguably the two hardest lock forwards Thorn and Botha are both devout Christians and family men who hardly touch drink. You wouldnt think it if you were the one on the other side of the ruck about to be "cleared"

Robinson was for me more electric but then he was a back and would stand out as he accelerated and spiralled through tackler after would be tackler. I just think that the conversion for a forward is that much harder and Thorn is the spine through which the AB pack is based, his work isnt flashy but it is very effective. Take him out the equation and lets see how much good ball the backline gets. You could also argue that Thorn was a more successful leaguie in the first place. Granted he doesnt yet have world cup medal but I would rule him out being in the AB tight five come 2011. So for me it would be Thorn and then Robinson even though I dont hold my breath when Brad has the ball in hand

This bloke is as hard as they come, I have to say a look into his upbringing might shed some light on what it takes besides genetics to make classic tight 5 forward. As an ex lock I'm always looking in s14 and our local perth club comp for future players in his mold. Haven't spotted one yet. I'd go as far as saying he is probably the AB's fittest player @34 and no one, not even RM puts in as much physically as Thorne. Maybe we can genetically modify sharpie!

It'll be a sad, sad day when Brad Thorn hangs them up. He's become such a better player than he was when he first switched codes. The irony here is that Henry didn't want him in 2004, and if not for Deans, Thorn would've gone to Europe at the end of 2007. Deans had to actually convince the NZRU to sign him, as their recruitment office deemed him a "poor investment." You can read the whole Brad Thorn story here -- http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/brad-thorn-an-unconventional-path-1036444.html

Thorn is a phenomenon. The fact that he's done the switch more than once back into the elite level speaks volumes. He's held his own, if not dominated SOO and Bledisloe games, which is the pinnicle in this part of the world Good peice. I'm assuming you meant that Thorn had won 4 NRL premierships with Brisbane? (97, 98, 00, 06). Brisbane won their 6th premiership in 2006 (5 if you don't count Super League) 92 93 (97 - SL) 98 00 06

I agree worlds biggest, I just dont agree hes the most successful as rusty stated.

Circa Tuqiri's now cancelled contract .... Brad Thorn is not only more valuable as a player, but also as a person, exactly the sort of senior player you want to help lead and guide a squad. He's the man.

Katzilla, I think it's Thorn all the way in regards to best ever convert. It is incredibly difficult in fact almost impossible for a League forward to make it in Union. Thorn has not only achieved this everest but is a star for the best team in the World. Robinson was fantastic and would be my number 2 convert.

Rusty, I'd definately say hes the Best Forward to ever cross over. But as far as sucess goes you can't really go past Jason Robinson. World Cup, Super League Titles etc. Fingers crossed Thorn will have a World Cup come 2011 ;) Thorn gives us that 'Presence' that we need in tight and around the fringes. If any of you remember the 2nd France game, he was standing on the side of the ruck defending and Taunting the french to run it at him. They set up a couple of guys infront of him then went the other way. Now thats presence.

Wouldn't you love to have him in the Wallabies Team. The All Blacks are very lucky to have him. I still remember vividly his back slam tackle on John Smit last year in the Tri Nations. To successfully cross codes twice is remarkable.

Brad Thorn is a great rugby player, but he's an even greater human being, which perhaps explains his real value to the All Blacks.