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The Queensland Reds are closing in on Brad Thorn’s replacement as head coach while Rugby Australia has moved on their General Manager National High-Performance Adrian Thompson.
The Roar can reveal the Reds were locked in meetings on Wednesday night at Ballymore to try and narrow down the final candidates to replace Thorn, who signalled his intention to stand aside on April 17. He will remain on the payroll until November.
The franchise’s only Super Rugby-winning skipper James Horwill, who also led the Wallabies to the 2011 World Cup, and former Wallabies captain and Rugby Australia chairman Paul McLean have led the task of whittling down the candidates to a handful.
The Reds are moving closer to naming Brad Thorn’s replacement as head coach. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
It’s believed there were approximately 40 applications, which was narrowed to an estimated 10 for the second-round interviews.
The Queensland Rugby Union wants a local to replace Thorn and they don’t want someone who still has their training wheels on. Indeed, they want someone with a proven head coaching record.
As multiple sources have quipped, ‘That rules out just about every Australian’.
Candidates were asked two questions. First, what would they do to address the Reds’ roster and, second, they were asked to deliver a game plan.
Former London Irish head coach Les Kiss is the favourite to take over as Reds coach. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
It’s believed former Queensland Maroons winger turned respected coach Les Kiss, who spent time with Ireland and Ulster as an assistant and, most recently, as head coach of London Irish, is understood to be the favourite.
Under Kiss, London Irish rocketed up the English Premiership standings and only just missed the top four finals this year, finishing fifth.
That rise up the standings from 10th in 2020 to fifth in 2023 was also off the back of astute signings and the emergence and fostering of youth like Henry Arundell.
Kiss, who remains in the United Kingdom, however, has options with Edinburgh also circling the 58-year-old.
While he is the most experienced, some believe he wouldn’t know the pathways within the Australian ecosystem that can prove useful for coaches. Kiss was an assistant with the Waratahs in the early 2000s.
Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey is a strong candidate to take over from Brad Thorn. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Former World Cup-winner Nathan Grey, who went to two World Cup campaigns as Michael Cheika’s assistant and is the current Junior Wallabies head coach, is also another strong candidate.
Grey, it is understood, presented well to the Reds’ selection committee and is well regarded despite his record as defence coach being hardly flattering.
Mick Heenan, who was brought on as Thorn’s assistant in 2023 after leading Queensland University to six titles, is also a chance. But just how significant those titles are has been debated.
Another World Cup winner, Toutai Kefu, who is Tonga’s current coach, also presented well but is unlikely to be given the top job.
While Steve Diamond, who helped give James O’Connor a lifeline, has been spoken about too. Ditto, Brad Mooar, the former All Blacks assistant, who was also considered before the QRU settled on wanting a local coach to take over from Thorn after six years in charge.
The bolter in the mix is former Wales, Scotland and Rugby Australia director of rugby Scott Johnson.
Former Rugby Australia Director of Rugby Scott Johnson is keen on taking over at the Queensland Reds. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
Johnson, who was pushed aside at the end of 2021 by the current RA administration, has been positioning himself to take over as DOR for months.
He doesn’t consider himself a head coach option, but he removed himself from the committee to open up the chance of taking over as DOR.
It’s understood that the Reds’ preference is to secure a head coach alone. But if the QRU Board don’t feel like they’ve got the right coaching candidates, they could yet turn to Johnson.
Johnson’s appointment wouldn’t be supported by RA, nor many figures through the Australian rugby ecosystem.
But many still believe he has one of the smartest rugby brains in the country and someone who cut through the weeds.
He also is well liked by QRU powerbroker Jeff Miller.
In fact, RA tried to lure Johnson home from Scotland to work alongside Thorn. But Johnson didn’t think the role was significant enough after more than a decade in the international game.
In the end, Cheika’s struggles with the Wallabies saw the national governing body bring him home as RA DOR.
While many, including the Wallabies’ coaching staff and some Super Rugby coaches, thought he was excellent, he ruffled feathers with rugby figures from all corners of the country.
Similarly, Cheika is also a long shot should the board not be happy with the current options. One of the things playing against him is that he would likely ruffle too many feathers at the QRU and he wouldn’t be available until after this year’s World Cup.
A decision could come as early as the end of the week.
Meanwhile, The Roar can also reveal that RA has made two senior figures redundant.
Thompson, who had been working in RA’s pathways for years and held the important role of general manager of high performance, was let go on Wednesday.
While Chief Marketing Officer Marissa Pace, who was formerly with World Rugby and hired by former CEO Andy Marinos and was widely respected, has also been let go.
Phil Waugh (R) has made two key changes to Rugby Australia since joining as CEO. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
New RA CEO Phil Waugh informed staff on Thursday of the change in structure.
“Over the past few weeks, after being appointed to the role of CEO of Rugby Australia, I have been reviewing the structure of the organization and how best to operate and function in the current environment,” he told staff in an email.
“As a consequence of this review, two senior roles have been impacted, being the Chief Marketing Officer and the General Manager, National High-Performance programs.”
The national pathways have long been a problematic area for RA and many believe it needed a shake-up.
The announcement comes days after the Junior Wallabies comes after an underwhelming campaign, which will see Grey’s men take on New Zealand after a heavy 30-10 defeat to Ireland and 22-22 draw with England.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.