'Messy and unclear': Skipper launches staunch defence of Thorn as Quade, Horwill question Reds' game plan

Liam Wright has issued a staunch defence of under-siege Reds coach Brad Thorn, as club greats Quade Cooper and James Horwill questioned the direction of the team.

After a promising first half against the Brumbies on Friday night, the Reds fell off a cliff in the second half to go down 52-24 at home.

The defeat was the Reds’ third straight and fifth from their opening seven matches this season, leaving Thorn’s side clinging on in eighth position ahead of their tough trip to Apia to take on the winless Moana Pasifika.

But just as concerning as the defeat was the manner of their performance.

Once again, the Reds’ discipline was terrible.

Angus Blyth’s clumsy yellow card, which was upgraded to red by the Television Match Official, was just the start of it as the Reds gave away 15 penalties, including one on the stroke of half-time where the Brumbies kicked for the corner and came away with seven points to lose the lead.

“We’re disappointed still,” Wright told reporters on Monday.

“That sort of game doesn’t just wash over like that. We were well in the fight, first half especially, even with things going wrong, we were well in that fight and probably were score-wise until about that sort of 60-65 minutes when we just folded.

“We’ve got to take some tough lessons from it, and it’s a shame we’re sort of repeating the same thing each week but our discipline cost us, 15 penalties is just not up to scratch in Super Rugby and that’s going to be tough to win games like that.”  

Brad Thorn’s tenure with the Reds is on shaky ground. Photo: Albert Perez/Getty Images

The Reds have struggled since taking out the Super Rugby AU title in front of 42,000 fans in 2021.

As well as discipline struggles, the Reds have been hammered by injuries since, particularly at the pointy end of seasons.

Without Taniela Tupou to start 2023, as well as a host of other tight-five forwards, including Josh Nasser, Harry Hoopert and Luke Jones, the Reds have struggled to win the all-important gain line and set-piece battles.

It has left the Reds playing players out of position and brutally exposed, particularly after the departures of hardened forwards Feao Fokuaika, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Angus Scott-Young over the past 12 months.

Taniela Tupou’s absence has been felt in 2023. Photo: Ramsey Cardy, Getty Images

But with other players stalling in their development, and the Reds particularly struggling for results against New Zealand opposition, the blowtorch has firmly turned on the off-contract Thorn.

Wright, however, said the Reds were being well-equipped by the coaching staff and it was on the playing group to ensure they turn a new leaf.

“Quite simply because they’re not the ones on the field,” Wright said. “At the end of the day, I feel like our game plans have been good going into the games and I’ll continue to defend our coaching staff.

“I think they’ve been working with us quite well in setting up game plans that we know can get us results. But it’s up to us as players to stick to those game plans and to execute those game plans.

“You know the penalties aren’t coming from people shouting up in the box. It’s coming from the guys making tackles, not rolling away, scrum penalties, maul penalties … so plain and simple, we’re the ones on the field, we’re the ones who’ve got the chance to execute it and write their headlines, I suppose. So that’s got to be on us.”

The franchise’s only Super Rugby-winning playmaker Quade Cooper, who was brutally sidelined by Thorn but has since resurrected his international career, however questioned the side’s lack of clear game plan.

“Brumbies a well oiled machine,” Cooper tweeted. “Very disciplined unit and a clear system. Finding it very difficult to work out the reds strategy.. it looks messy and unclear what their system is.”

His tweet was echoed by former Wallabies and Reds captain James Horwill, who encouraged his old side to simplify their game plan and get back to basics.

“I think there’s the element of a bit more detail around their game,” Horwill told Stan Sport.

“I think detail can sometimes breed confidence with players, particularly when they’re unsure. It looks as they’re playing, after they get to about three phases, they’re just a bit unsure. So, if they increase the detail to what they’re doing, and even around defence, then the players are clear about what they do.

“I don’t know this for a fact, but it looks like they’re unsure, which is making them react, give away silly penalties, push the pass when they don’t need to.

“So, a bit more detail around their performance, both sides of the ball,  wouldn’t go astray and maybe it’s dumbing it down a bit and just putting some more structures in to get them out of this rut.”

Liam Wright has issued a staunch defence of Reds coach Brad Thorn. Photo: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

Asked whether the playing group felt responsibility for putting Thorn’s job on the chopping block, Wright said they felt “aggrieved” by their performances but fully endorsed his coaching team to continue in their roles beyond 2023.

“Yeah, we do,” Wright said.

“The whole playing group, the majority of the playing group, have had their careers brought on by Brad and the coaching staff here at Queensland, and that means a lot.

“The trust that they’ve put in us to go in and do the job and the care that they’ve shown in our development, we endorse them 100 per cent.

“It’s now on us to take that responsibility and that trust that they’ve given us and start performing.”

First-year assistant coach Mick Heenan, who led Queensland University to six premierships across 13 seasons, is the favourite to coach the Reds from 2024.