Brad Thorn will continue to oversee the Queensland Reds’ rebuild after agreeing to a two-year coaching extension at the Super Rugby club.
Title winners of the domestic competition and finalists the year before, Thorn has overhauled the Reds since his 2018 arrival.
The deal was finally reached after Thorn had shown some reluctance to commit during last season given the code’s financial uncertainties due to COVID-19.
But with the 12-team Super Rugby Pacific confirmed from next season Thorn has locked himself in for what will take him into a fifth and sixth campaign with the side, the longest stint as Reds coach in two decades and equal-fourth longest in Queensland coaching history.
Last season the Reds leveraged their dominance of the Super Rugby AU season to win the most games (nine) since 2013, equal a club-record 11-game winning streak at Suncorp Stadium and win three-straight matches against the Brumbies for the first time.
Assistants Jim McKay (attack), Michael Todd (defence) and Cameron Lillicrap (set piece and skills) all committing until 2023 as well.
“I’m honoured to be staying with the club for another two seasons,” the former dual-code international Thorn said.
“It’s great to have Michael Todd, Jim McKay and Cameron Lillicrap on board as well. We’ve got great staff here. As a head coach you need good people around you.
“We got some good pay this year for the hard work put in. It was an important achievement for the team, and our Queensland supporters to win the AU title.
“However, the New Zealand sides showed us there is still some way to go, and we’re looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Playing the game does that. That's what training is for.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Even at the highest level, you've still got to reinforce the basics.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Brad Thorn is so one dimensional, yes, and limited. Just like Michael Cheika really - his rugby education included some fella name Jeff Sayle. Who has heard of him, really! And Thorn, opiniated, expecting to pick and choose who should be in the team under his tutelage, quite outrageous!
Cheika_Mate
Roar Rookie
Your spot on with the Brumbies I think the Reds have one of the best back room staff or support staff in the country, very experienced. Todd McKay Lillicrap with Thorn that’s a pretty good group filled with a tonne of corporate knowledge. And gees talk about talent coming through the ranks. A good move the Reds are in a good place presently.
Guess
Roar Rookie
He failed against kiwi teams in TT quite the same
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Yeah good to be passionate and aim high. At least Australia has won a full Super Rugby more recently than South Africa!
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Good point, he ticks a lot of boxes. He'll back Thorn on maintaining and improving the culture, and he adds experience and excellent specialist knowledge of back play to the coaching group.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Hahah JD..I have to back any Oz team..so long that super title comes to Australian soil..that is why I have to set my expectations high...
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
That is for sure..he came from a winning culture long before BT arrived on the scene
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
I'm not saying that it's not possible, but to say he NEEDS to be better than the crusaders and all the other kiwi teams? That's going way too far.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Jim McKay was a vital re-signing.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Broncos culture mate. His biggest influence as a player and a coach was no doubt Wayne Bennett.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Machpants..BT will first need to learn how to get over his gripes with certain players..especially experience blokes..he does appear to have certain similarities with Cheika...
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
This is not to knock BT but he needs to deliver on winning either next year or the following year the new competition..he was allowed to built his team for many years now unlike Penney...the missing pieces in the puzzle was not having experience blokes around...go figure...so it is all thanks to having an experience guys like JOC at flyhalf etc that results were starting to come...
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Good news, Reds are building well.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Not a Wallabies coach job to teach basic fundamentals.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
That"s the club coach's job, not the WB coach's!
KTinHK
Roar Pro
That's the coach's job.
El Flash
Roar Rookie
Great call. Thorn has been there, done that & suffers fools lightly. He has come from an All Black culture where the jersey comes before the player. Where a players reputation means absolutely nothing & where a culture of you're only as good as your last game still holds sway. Getting rid of Rodda was smart as there's a guy only interested in the money. Thorn knew it & didn't want that sort of cancerous attitude in his side. It showed earlier this year when the Reds week in week out played for the jersey.
Butcher
Roar Rookie
Great news for the reds.