Thorn's Super Rugby tenure OVER as Queensland go down in nailbiter to Chiefs

Brad Thorn’s time as Queensland Reds coach is over after his side fell agonisingly short against the Chiefs in Waikato, losing 29-20 on Saturday afternoon.

But you get the feeling that if the Reds do kick-on in the years to come, the never-say-die attitude instilled by their departing coach will be one of the pillars they build from and find success through.

After sneaking into the finals, the written-off Reds made a mockery of the form guide and made life hell for the previously flying Chiefs.

Harry Wilson celebrates scoring a try during the Reds’ narrow quarter-final loss to the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato, on June 10, 2023, in Hamilton. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Indeed, it looked like a boilover was very much on the cards when Suliasi Vunivalu – one of Australian rugby’s most vexed players – smartly saw an opening on the edge of the ruck to score his second try to give the Reds hope of pulling off an upset. Tom Lynagh’s conversion from out wide gave the Reds a 20-19 lead after 61 minutes.

But a penalty to Damian McKenzie, who was faultless from the tee, and try to Pita Gus Sowakula in the 75th minute saw the Chiefs sneak home to the sound of the home side’s cowbells.

The relief was written all over Chiefs captain Sam Cane’s face, with the All Blacks skipper one of his side’s best in the international-esque battle, where the margins were tight and defence and set-piece were key.

“We were made to work extremely hard for it but, to be fair, it’s what we expected,” he said.

“When you get to the playoffs, there’s eight teams and you start from scratch. What happened during the season doesn’t count for too much except the top four teams get a home field advantage, which was obviously huge tonight.

“We came up against a really tough Reds side. That’s what we expected. They defended really well, I thought their set-piece was pretty good and they kicked really well. It was an arm-wrestle, we had to grind our way out, but proud of the way we stayed composed and managed to do it.”

Sam Cane was one of the Chiefs’ best in their narrow win over the Reds in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Reds skipper Tate McDermott said he was frustrated that a couple of calls that went against his side, hinting at the grievance at Sef Fa’agase, who was the Reds’ best, not being awarded a try after burrowing in close but was ruled to have been held up.

“There’s a couple of calls that were probably questionable to be honest, but I’m really proud of that effort,” McDermott said.

“We came here, like we did earlier in the season, we just gave it a red hot crack. For what’s been a pretty disappointing season, we left it all out there.

“Thorny’s last game in charge of this franchise and he’s been absolute trooper for us. I’d just to like thank him.

“He’s been with me and a lot of the other boys for the whole journey, the whole six years, and what he’s done to turnaround this club has been phenomenal. He’s a proud man and hopefully we put a smile on his face.”

McDermott doesn’t have to worry. His side delivered the rousing, character-filled performance that was the hallmark of Thorn’s two-decade career that started in the NRL with the Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Maroons.

The Reds’ defence aimed up but it was their scrum work, led by Fa’agase at tight-head prop, that really came to town in Hamilton.

Reds coach Brad Thorn kneels with Tom Lynagh following the Reds’ agonising close loss to the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato on June 10, 2023, in Hamilton. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Fa’agase, 32, delivered an eye-catching performance that would have caught Eddie Jones’ impression, as he went to work against the Chiefs’ scrum.

He wasn’t the only one who fired on the eve of the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship squad either, with Harry Wilson delivering one of his best performances in a Reds jersey this year while Vunivalu finally looked like a player who belonged. Hooker Matt Faessler continued his rise and is likely to feature in Jones’ Wallabies squad.

The Reds’ playmakers outkicked the Chiefs too, with three 50-22s turning the screws on their opponents.

Ultimately, though, it wasn’t enough as the Chiefs showed their calmness under pressure and skills with ball-in-hand to eventually break the Reds.

After making wholesale changes for their final match in the regular season, the Chiefs looked like making the perfect start to brush away their rust when Emoni Narawa looked to have scored after five minutes.

But the explosive winger’s push on a retreating Josh Flook was enough for Angus Gardner to overturn the chip-and-chase try.

The Chiefs looked like they would get another opportunity to put some real heat on the Reds, but a clumsy mistake at the scrum allowed Fraser McReight to pounce on the loose ball and sprint away. The Reds No.7 linked up with Wilson, who found Flook and the makeshift winger smartly put the ball on the toe and got their first 50-22 of the afternoon.

A lovely cut out pass from James O’Connor allowed Vunivalu to show his strength and tryscoring ability, as the winger found his way over for the opening points of the afternoon.

Three penalties to McKenzie saw the Chiefs pile on the pressure and take a 9-5 lead, before Wilson rolled his way over to score from close range. But Lynagh’s missed conversion meant the Reds’ lead was only 10-9.

Narawa’s try on the stroke of half-time was the big blow landed in typical New Zealand fashion, as the winger beautifully finished off some more Shaun Stevenson magic.

Both sides traded penalties to start the second half, before Vunivalu’s second gave the Reds a genuine sniff.

But the Chiefs eventually found the knockout blow as their back-rower Sowakula barged his way over to score and seal their semi-final place.