Queensland’s Super Rugby finals hopes are almost sunk following their loss to the Chiefs, but Brad Thorn says there are more promising signs for the future.
Brad Thorn is usually reluctant to play the age card with his young Queensland Reds but couldn’t resist it after their freakish 19-13 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton.
The Reds slumped to second-last overall and look highly unlikely to make the Super Rugby finals after an eighth loss.
Thorn was torn over how to react to Friday’s performance, in which his side held a mortgage on possession and territory yet could only manufacture one try, when Taniela Tupou burrowed over for the game’s only scoring play in the second half.
Otherwise the visitors hammered away but, without game-breaking inside centre Samu Kerevi, lacked a cutting edge.
“It was gutsy,’” said Thorn, although that description could be assigned to a Chiefs side forced to make nearly 250 tackles.
Thorn pointed out that prop Tupou, who turned 23 this month, was the oldest member of his starting forward pack.
While it had been a Reds pledge not to use youth as an excuse this season, he hinted it played a big part in failing to nail their chances.
“They’re out there, they’re competing hard and they’re learning some stuff. The time will come when they start to win those games,” he said.
“You can see there’s something good going on and experiences like tonight, it doesn’t come easy but they’ll learn from it.”
Izack Rodda, who was captain in place of the rested Samu, didn’t regret changing Queensland’s game plan of close-quarter rugby, pointing to a damp surface that made expansive play difficult.
“We were getting pay playing direct and playing through them. So we thought we’d look play to our strengths and look for a weakness,” he said.
The Reds will need to beat the Jaguares and Blues in successive home games to have any sort of finals chance heading into a final regular season game against the Brumbies.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Here is a photo with Horan standing alongside the Fox Sports team, including Phil Kearns, Rod Kafer and Greg Martin. He is taller than Kearns and quite noticeably taller than Kafer. Greg Martin, who is definitely above 6’ is noticeably taller than Horan. https://mediaweek.com.au/australian-rugby-union-announces-new-media-rights-deal/
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
I used to serve drinks at the corporate terrace at ballymore in the late 90’s which is where the players from both sides would have drinks and nibbles with the corporates. I stood next to him on dozens of occasions. I am 5’10”. He is at least an inch taller than me. His height surprised me the first time I took his drink order - I thought he would have been about 5’8” from seeing him on tv. Up close he looked like they took a short stocky Alfie Langer type and just enlarged him. Having said that he has got really faint looking all of a sudden this year.
ken gargett
Guest
GH, i see wikipedia agrees with you and even has him at nearly 15 stone (14.9). which would suggest that wikipedia is not always the infallible source we might wish. i've stood next to him on several occasions. if he is six foot then i am 8 foot ten. no way on earth is he six foot. he was, however, the first person i thought of when the discussion turned to smaller centres. i still believe he is the finest centre i've ever seen and i'd have him in any team.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
What's that Jacko - "Brad is good" heard it before mate that record of yours is getting plenty scratched by now, must nearly be broken. And results are important now, that's amazing. May 25 results are not important May 26 results are important. Why don't you see if you can keep a constant position for 2 days or more then get back to us. The Reds finished 2017 5th last, 2018 3rd last and 2019 2nd last (currently) this is improving you say. I take in Jacko world when a team is stone motherless last this is a good thing. Jacko, under Thorn, the only thing the Reds look like winning is the ol wooden spoon. As to the Tahs Jacko I'm a Queenslander, I don't comment too much on the Tahs or their rugby. That would just be unwarranted and dumb. It would be like a Cheifs fan haunting Australian rugby blogs and commenting on the Reds :) :) :)
concerned supporter
Roar Rookie
No MF, Qland Reds played 8 man Rugby, not 10 man. They were dreadful.
Massive Ferguson
Guest
You mean the same astute judges that have squandered the capital built during the McKenzie years? You are wrong if you think the rank and file Qld rugby fans support Thorn or are happy with the progress.....he has failed to live up to his own hype. I couldn't give a toss what Thorn did with Cooper, Hunt and Slipper provided he factored an alternative into his decision. It was clear he was struggling when both assistant coaches were demoted to the Reds development squad in 2018 and Lilycrap had to fold up the massage table to sort out scrum again. Come 2019 and Ryan is hired to fix the thread bare defence that Thorn had taken personal responsibility for and old Jim McKay is brought in to wind up the backs. I give Ryan a pass as the only obvious improvement over Stiles 2017 side. Had Stiles been given Ryan and Jim McKay the Reds would be travelling better and at the least not playing top line players to oppose them.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I didn’t say they hadn’t. In fact its pretty obvious they have. Losing their 2 main strike weapons being a major part of that. This year defence has improved, set piece and ruck also a little better. But attack has fallen off a cliff. From 3rd highest try scoring team last year to 10th. Both Folau and TN were in the top 5 try scorers last year. Losing them left a massive hole in our attack.
Jacko
Guest
NV its not the Reds fans being angry. Its all the Thorn haters. Most Reds fans see improvement. As do the Reds bosses and the Fox rugby commentry team.
Jacko
Guest
Paul last year the Tahs finished with 44 points and a +112 points difference. This year they are so far sitting on 26 points with a -5 PD. Tahs have gone backward terribly.
Jacko
Guest
RO far better judges than you and I decided to extend Thorns contract. That makes my opinion more accurate than yours. The Reds last year finished with a points difference of -112 and had 4 bonus points with 28 points total. Already this season they have 4 bonus points and are -30 points difference and on 24 points. Hopefully you can see the improvement but I believe you have a hatred for Thorn and he could win the comp and you would still hate on him. The Tahs are only 2 points ahead yet arnt putting rubbish on Gibson like you are on Thorn.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
You'd never say never and hope that he can stick around but he's not the only Reds loss in the "confirmed" basket https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/reds-lose-samu-kerevi-and-scott-higginbotham-to-overseas-clubs/news-story/f3b3384180716f7ca791e4b1a4ca5a3e
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
So when the conditions suit a fast running game then the Reds can lose that game. But when the conditions suit a tight forward based contest then the Reds have the game to lose that one too. ......... that the coach doesn’t know how to coach 15 man rugby. Might not be the issue. Indeed I think that we could strike 15 man from the sentence and be much closer to the key issue holding back the Reds.
Peterj
Guest
*big
Peterj
Guest
Wait! What?? I thought he was at least 25-26! That’s crazy. Definitely got a bit future.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
What last week’s result has to do with it is that it shows that there is nothing wrong with their attack, as the usual critics are saying. This week they were playing to a forwards focused game plan that was suitable for the conditions, it didn’t come off, but that doesn’t mean that the coach doesn’t know how to coach 15 man rugby.
Massive Ferguson
Guest
What's last week's six tries got to do with anything. The Reds only needed one more converted try yesterday. No ones asking for a try scoring bonanza just a bit of direction with a glut of possession. Please don't use the term 10 man rugby if you don't know what it means.
Redbeard
Roar Rookie
Mea Culpa on this, but Brad would would almost certainly be as good as those there at present!. Apologies to Quade.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Has Kerevi's departure been confirmed?
Charlie Turner
Guest
What's the issue with Lillycrap? He's been the scrum coach (and physio) at the Reds for a good while now that's the one part of their game that's remained strong.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
They lost last week too didn't they.