Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn is considering his future at the franchise after watching his exciting young team fall painfully short in the Super Rugby AU final.
His side lost in a tense match final on Saturday night.
The Reds overcame the odds to push the Brumbies to the limit before succumbing 28-23 in a frenetic finish in Canberra, having trailed by 15 points midway through the second half.
Undone by ill-discipline and having been reduced to 14 men for ten minutes following the sin-binning of winger Filipo Daugunu for a lifting tackle early in the second half, the Reds looked gone having already lost freakish young winger Jordan Petaia and forward enforcer Lukhan Salakai-Loto to injuries.
“But the guys showed what they’ve shown all the way along, which is their ticker and resilience,” Thorn said after a contentious try to Reds lock Angus Blyth in the 64th minute set up a grandstand finish at GIO Stadium.
“Their determination to get back into the game, it was pretty close in the end, wasn’t it?
“But, at the end of the day, it’s not much fun losing grand finals, is it?”
“We came down here to get a job done and came close but didn’t get there.”
Still, the Reds have come a long way since Thorn took over before the 2018 season and, intent on presiding over a cultural overhaul, rebuilt the team with old-fashioned hard work and some controversial rostering calls.
The dual international, Rugby World Cup winner, NRL and State of Origin premiership hero was widely condemned for cutting enigmatic playmaker Quade Cooper loose and also letting Karmichael Hunt and James Slipper leave for disciplinary reasons.
But Thorn’s hard-nosed decisions are finally starting to pay dividends, with the Reds emerging as one of the most exciting teams in Super Rugby.
Led maturely by flanker Liam Wright, the Reds boast a world-class forward pack also featuring Super Rugby AU MVP Taniela Tupou and future Wallabies back-rowers Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight.
Thorn’s lifeline to James O’Connor has led to the rebirth of the one-time wild child of Australian rugby, while several other backs are in the sights of first-year Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
But asked if he was sticking around for another year to continue the rebuild, Thorn was coy.
“I’ve just been worrying about this at the moment,” he said.
“But now that this has come to an end, I’m sure there’ll be chats and what-not going around there.
“But it’s not really something to talk about now, mate. We’ve just come from a pretty big game.”
yep its a tricky one. Regarless of anyones opinion on his coaching ability the role of international HC definately requires a media presence and that is not one of his skillsets. I cant see him being a test coach for years if at all but there is something about him that RA must like. maybe some form of assistants role in the future but I think thats a way off at the moment. I wouldnt be surprised if he went to League to coach in the future
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Jacko, thanks for thinking of me. Thorn has surprised me thus year being able to string a few winning games together. He still can't string a few words together. His Pressers are embarrassing, and I can only imagine him being ridiculed by the press on the national and international stage.:)
You would love this Bobby https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/122858396/brad-thorn-tipped-as-potential-wallabies-coach-with-rugby-australia-keen-to-keep-him
Anthony
Guest
So your selecting players because they have a lot of FB fans !!!????? Pity he can't tackle a hot feed, pretty much one of the basic fundamentals of playing rugby. If you were the coach maybe you could pick one of the Kardashians to pack down in the scrum with Thor, they could play hooker quite well and probably be able to throw into a lineout.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
There is a lot of discussions of selections on this site. I exercise my discretion not going to waste money on tickets to watch a dud team lose.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Z-Man, Also, Coach Goon denied George Smith a farewell game at Lang Park when the Reds were already already well out of the finals. Thorn is the Trump of rugby.
Do I have to do it all for you? Stop making silly untrue comments and I wont have to correct you all the time...Google is your new friend...
Warwick Todd
Guest
I bet Rob wouldn't go within a bulls roar of the Reds while Thorn is there.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Which players left the Tahs mid season that the Tahs wanted to keep?
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
4 years, whatever. He was always a mercenary. He never had loyalty to any team he played for and has never respected the loyalty of players as a coach. It is no wonder he can’t inspire it himself. He doesn’t know what it is.
have they...Not by your usual measure...
He went straight back 2 years later as soon as they were able to free up the cash. Wrong....His bronco's stints were 1995-2000 then 2005-2007
Warwick Todd
Guest
Bring back Link.....Jim McKay, Jason Gilmore and Cam Lillycrap. Groom Gilmore for the Head Coach role and move Link to a Director of Rugby position. Won't happen but it would be nice. Losing Link's rugby IP was a crime.
Qld country too
Which other coach had players bail out mid season? The Tahs coach for starters but do you believe that they bailed out because of Thorn? That is the true measure of a man isnt it...Bail out because the Coach didnt give you the captancy or because you arnt getting selected where you want to......Who would want that sort of "entitlement" in your players? You are on the Roar often enough to know players go OS and the coaches would prefer to keep them here but if that happens to Thorn its all him but whan other players leave other franchises its nothing to do with the Coach..... Are you saying that the only players that have left Aus rugby are players Thorn wanted to stay? You are changing facts to write an anti Thorn narrative...Im not changing facts to prove anything...
Warwick Todd
Guest
Then take another look at your corrections.
Z-MAN
Guest
Agree Gepetto. thousands of fans have not turned up to games because of what tHorne did to our Quade.Once tHorne leaves the crowds will come back.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Yeah, but you haven’t given an example of anyone else who bailed out that the franchise wanted to keep. TKs contract ended and Godwin stuck with the Force. Which other coach had players bail out mid season?
And Thorn is the only coach In Australia who had players bail on him. Point is you said the above statement and its incorrect...nothing more nothing less
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Not sure what point you are trying to make. QC, Slipper and Hunt were wallaby standard players that Thorn pushed out. If they were still playing for the Reds, the team would be a lot stronger and would have performed far better than it has done over the last few years. Kyle Godwin sticking with the Force is a credit to the faith the coach is able to instil in his players. Everything you say hurts your argument.