It will be a Red Hill reunion at Ballymore next season with Peter Ryan joining his former rugby league teammate Brad Thorn on the Queensland Reds coaching staff.
Thorn has pinched Ryan from the Brumbies to be the Reds’ defensive coach alongside returning attack coach Jim McKay in a coup for the rebuilding Super Rugby club.
The pair played together at the Brisbane Broncos and are two of just four men to win NRL and Super Rugby titles.
Backrower Ryan won four premierships with the Broncos in an 11-season stint and represented Queensland five times before a code hop resulted in a Super Rugby title with the ACT Brumbies.
The tough-as-nails tackler then took those skills into the coaching arena, working with both the Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys over eight seasons before becoming the Brumbies’ defensive coach in 2015.
Ryan had recently been assisting the Broncos on a casual basis but will now begin work with a young Reds squad on a two-year deal.
“Brad and I have worked together on and off the field for many years and his role at the Reds played a big part in my decision to come to Ballymore,” Ryan said.
“We have very similar views on rugby and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with this group of Queenslanders.”
Thorn has prioritised defence and discipline since taking the job last season and guiding the inconsistent side to 13th amid a constant string of controversies.
Captain James Slipper was forced to sign with the Brumbies after his suspension for a positive drug test, while out-of-favour pair Karmichael Hunt and Quade Cooper played out their seasons at club level.
“He’s a great guy, a Queenslander and his work in defence is an area I’m really passionate about,” Thorn said.
“He was a tough operator as a player and I know he’ll bring that attitude and hard edge.”
The addition of McKay and Ryan, as well as the arrival of former Rebels and Munster coach and Wallabies assistant Tony McGahan as head of the Reds Academy, has surrounded Thorn with experience.
Former Reds assistant and Wallabies winger Paul Carozza will remain at Ballymore as the head of talent management for the Reds Academy.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Who else in the Reds committed a couple of cowardly acts / assaults on McCaw then said to the kiwi crowd 'bring it on' or similar ?? not to mention the 'burglary' for which he was not charged and apparently bought the victim off. .... moral fibre test ??
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
The difference is Thorn has morals and ethics...
N Martin
Roar Rookie
Typical Australian approach to all things Rugby Union. Unless they are cucumber sandwich eating 'boys club' tossers, they don't fit in with Aus Rugby. Aus Rugby is in such a perilous mess because it's so incestuously inbreed
Rucken Loaf
Guest
No the achievement was more wins than any other Reds team in the last 5 years
Bobby Magee
Guest
Do you think any Aus team will finish top 6 without help from the finals system?
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
I think you mean to say that Thorn took a team to 3rd last on the ladder. According to some that's an achievement.
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Good point Hoy, and the irony is not lost on these 2 issues being the hangable/demoting offences for one QC. That's why Thorn has lost credibility in my eyes because his demotion of QC was personal as he never singled out and hung/demoted anyone else who was guilty of the same charges.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Hoy, last year the extent of the defensive coaching would have been Thorn "telling" the player to tackle better. Ryan will implement structure and more importantly work on technique. I wonder if Jim McKay still has what it takes and if so will Stewart improve enough to run the backline at this level?
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
What positions will they be playing?? ????
Hoy
Roar Guru
This is a good move... But I am pretty sure Peter Ryan has been involved with the Brumbies well before 2015... he was defensive coach down there for years some time ago wasn't he? Well, Jim Mackay and Peter Ryan in the coaching team... they look to be setting themselves up well. I think the only issue here is the following line: "Thorn has prioritised defence and discipline since taking the job last season and guiding the inconsistent side to 13th amid a constant string of controversies." It might have been his priority, but I can't see what he did to try to fix it... at times the Reds defense was terrible... Certainly not a defensive brick wall for all the talk and focus on it. Hopefully this will help.
Doug
Guest
Brad Thorn has signed proven failures in Chris F Sauita and Aiden Toua. It is going to be a bad year again.
Keo
Guest
If Thorn does not get a top 6 spot, he has failed. He has his team now . No excuses . No top 6 finish in 2019, he must be sacked immediately !
Carn Reds
Roar Rookie
Completely agree Tragic, Some negative comments where it feels like people expected Thorn to take a team that has been 3rd last on the ladder (or abouts) for the past 5 years and all of a sudden within a season be in the finals. Thorn has shown promise in QLD Country and has, like it or not, stood by his commitment regarding holding individual players to expectations. Now the Reds are bring in some great quality assistants and McGahan in the academy.. I applaud the decision and continue to support them..
BOBBY
Guest
Haha Thorns winning record is about the same as Richard Graham. Walkable is much better (but heading the same way)
Bobby
Guest
Brad is very inexperienced. The results show that. His strategies and man management skills are woeful. You are dreaming if you think he'd have got a HC or A.C. in Kiwiland. They can tell the difference between a good player and a potential good coach
Charlie Turner
Guest
You're welcome Freddie. I heard he's affectionately known as Pale Rider around Ballymore so your role descriptors seem appropriate.
ethan
Guest
Reds are making some good moves ahead of next year. Jim McKay and Peter Ryan are both proven, and both have a big place in their heart for QLD rugby.
A sports tragic
Roar Rookie
Wow how's all the negativity towards Brad Thorn. Can any of you do any better? He could have gone and cut his teeth as a coach in NZ. Instead he comes to the Reds and what does he get...cut down. Pretty sure he did a pretty good job with QLD Country . Did he not. Also how young is the QLD team? he now has the coaching staff around him. I would say if the Reds fail it will be because of the cattle not the coaches...
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Thanks Charlie, You got me thinking..... Thorn and pastoral care?? Now that's an oxymoron! Will that be pastoral care:- a) served with a clenched fist? b) clenched fist with knuckle dusters? c) a branding iron/red hot poker "from Brad with love"? d) sentenced to a session of being at the bottom-of-the-ruck for practices of 'the good-old-days" clean outs? e) an evening and some tough love with Madam Lash? ????
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
This should be a very good appointment. Ipswich born, and a product of Downlands College in Toowoomba, he is a Queenslander born and bred....a good start. HIs sucessful switch to Union with the Brumbies, and then a very sound defence coaching portfolio in both league and union make him an ideal choice to join Brad Thorn's team.......fact they are friends won't do any harm either.