Brad Thorn might have pushed the boundaries as a player, but he says that’s not the way he instructs his Queensland Reds to play Super Rugby.
Thorn said he felt no need to broach a perceived discipline problem with his team after they were briefly reduced to 13 men in their season-opening defeat to the Melbourne Rebels.
Captain Scott Higginbotham was shown a red card and lock Lukhan Tui a yellow, with both players suspended for three weeks by the SANZAAR judiciary.
Queensland were constantly hampered last season by on-field shortages, collecting 13 yellows and one send-off during their 2017 campaign under Nick Stiles.
But Thorn said that trend would end under his reign, suggesting his reputation as a player had led to an incorrect perception of his coaching style.
“I like positive footy,” Thorn said on Wednesday.
“Yes, I was a tight-head lock and, yeah, I did play on the edge probably often.
“(But) if you’ve watched the teams I’ve coached – in the (Queensland under-20s) and the NRC … I coach positive footy, I feel, if you’ve seen it.
“I like a physical contest as well, but in the right way.
“I just want to play proactive, positive footy within the boundaries of the game and compete hard.
“The last couple of years, there have been a lot of cards.
“I’d like to think there will be less this year.”
Despite losing two players, the Reds conceded only eight penalties against the Rebels – one of the lowest tallies last round in the competition.
Thorn admitted Tui paid the penalty for an “interesting tackle choice” as he lifted Will Genia off the ground. He said players had to be more accurate with their techniques given SANZAAR’s increasingly tough stance on head-related injuries.
But he said he didn’t want his players to change anything about their approach to physicality for Friday’s home clash with the Brumbies.
“You’ve just got to be smart around how you do that,” he said.
“You want to bring that physicality – it’s a physical, contact sport – but you (must ensure you’re) doing that in the right way.”
aussikiwi
Guest
Yep, undoubtedly Brad Thorn is to blame for the high tackle by Higgers. Higgers was a saint until Thorn got hold of him. Hmm, how many cards in the first two rounds? Must be a lot of high tackling/shoulder charging coaches out there......
aussikiwi
Guest
Well said Jacko, netball is not fot the fainthearted!
Jacko
Guest
Always looking for a story eh Fionn...No story here sorry...I call Drongo out because the word gutless has nothing to do with that tackle or BT. A tackle being illegal has nothing to do with guts or lack of guts. Every player shows plenty of guts to play at that level and PLEASE look at the tackle again as it dropped him DANGEROUSLY on his back and Butt not his head...It looked like head for a bit there but luckily it didnt end up being on his head.....Still dangerously tho Fionn, still dangerously!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How long was his suspension Fionn? rules from a different era eh?
Jacko
Guest
not sure of your confusion there ILLYA but I didnt give up playing because of a bad knee...Age got the better of me Im afraid but to give you a little tip...You dont have to play rugby to be involved in it and to be at rugby training every tuesday and thursday evenings. Also dont rubbish netball its a tough sport
Jacko
Guest
The fact that it is listed as a yellow says you are wrong but I am sure you are smart enough to find your way to the Sanzaar stats page and see the facts...just because you say so dont make it FACT
Fionn
Guest
Accusing Drongo for being gutless for calling that tackle out, and then implying above that it wasn't dangerously closr to dropping him on his head.
Illya Kuryakin
Guest
Netball training Jacko? Couldn't be rugby you said you hadn't played in years.....bad knees wasn't it.
Taylorman
Guest
I’d take that bridge offer drongo...then you could get over it?
Fionn
Guest
The fact that he got banned for 3 weeks wouldn't isn't the same as just you saying it though, Jacko. This is world rugby saying the offence was definitely worthy of a red card.
rebel
Roar Guru
Before I get accused of Quade bashing, check out his instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/BfxezqUlvWE/
Jacko
Guest
But do they? I could say some of the other yellows should be reds too so lets count all yellows as reds eh?
piru
Roar Rookie
he's in the toilets
piru
Roar Rookie
i don't know if the Reds would have run up the score quite as much, but I don't think it's a stretch to say they'd probably have won
Jacko
Guest
Hunt isnt in the Gym
Jacko
Guest
Sorry there is nothing i have said that is defending that tackle and I clearly stated it would be a card these days. The tackle is not defensable What did I say that made you interpret it as me defending it?
piru
Roar Rookie
shhhh ... no one cares
Jacko
Guest
Piri he also won the NRL title and SOO.....Yeah you are very weak as a league player if you only make the Aus test side eh Marto...what a drongo
Fionn
Guest
JP, the fact that Tui got banned means that his offence was deemed a red card offence also. Therefore, the Reds should really have two red cards already.
Jacko
Guest
i wonder what the score would have been if it was the Rebels that had the man sent off
Jacko
Guest
… give the team a chance …stop writing about how bad Thorn is after 1 game….stop blaming the Reds for Hunt doing something stupid…Let the team actually play No I meant that is what the fans are saying....didnt say thats what you were saying Well the ones I talk to every tuesday and thurs night at training......in Brisbane I might add