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'Better place': Wallabies legend reacts to Brad Thorn's Reds exit
Legendary Wallabies midfielder Tim Horan has claimed that the soon-to-depart Brad Thorn will leave the Reds in a much better place than when he took over. The 2011 Rugby World Cup winner became head coach in 2018 but early-season pressure in 2023 has resulted in Tuesday’s announcement that Thorn will exit at the end of the current campaign.
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Thorn will depart as the longest-serving Reds head coach in more than two decades and Horan, the two-time World Cup winner who now does punditry for Stan Sport, tweeted: “Brad Thorn is leaving the Reds in a better place than when he took over six years ago. A stronger culture, harder work ethic, and playing for each other. There is a lot of potential for the next coach to take the team to a new level.”
Reporter Jim Tucker added: “Brad Thorn stepping down as coach of the Reds at end of season after six years. He made call before any review in this bye week. ‘The job’s not finished. We have got six games left and finals and we have a plan to get there.’ Overwhelming positive stint.”
Greg Clark, the voice of Australian TV rugby, said: “Interesting Reds news. Coach Brad Thorn will step aside at the end of Super Rugby 2023. I guess it’s no surprise as he has been there six years but not sure about timing of the announcement? Reds still very much in the playoff race so hopefully Thorny goes out on a high.”
The Thorn announcement wasn’t breaking news to fellow reporter Mark Gottlieb. He tweeted: “Think you could tell in this interview from January that Brad Thorn was unlikely to coach the Reds beyond this Super Rugby season. He just seemed a bit over it. As Thorn said a few weeks ago, he has had nearly three decades non-stop in professional sport. That takes a toll.”
Former Wallabies forward Ben Alexander reckoned: “Brad Thorn is still in the early stages of his coaching career, but would love to hear a self-assessment of his strengths and weaknesses as a coach. Also, hope he isn’t sacked because Aussie rugby can’t afford to lose people with his fighting spirit and work ethic.”
Thorn, who won NRL titles with Brisbane while also winning a Rugby World Cup with New Zealand and Super Rugby silverware with the Crusaders, overhauled the Reds with bold decisions to let Quade Cooper, Karmichael Hunt and James Slipper go as he blooded a new wave of local talent.
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A Super Rugby AU title in 2021 was the high point, but the Reds have struggled against New Zealand opposition and this year slipped to a 3-5 record after costly losses to Melbourne and the Brumbies. A win in Samoa last Friday against Moana Pasifika improved the Reds to sixth place in a 12-team competition where the top eight contest finals.
Reds CEO David Hanham said in the club’s official media release about the Thorn exit: “Upon his appointment as head coach in 2018 he had to make some tough decisions – unpopular decisions, but they were for the betterment of the whole organisation.
“Built on care, humility and hard work, he changed the culture at Ballymore. Brad will continue and … his fellow coaching staff and playing group are all equally committed with the goal of playing finals for a fourth-straight year.”
Brad Thorn is leaving the Reds in a better place than when he took over 6 years ago. A stronger culture, harder work ethic, and playing for each other. There's a lot of potential for the next coach to take the team to a new level. @StanSportRugby
— Tim Horan (@TimHoran12) April 18, 2023
Brad Thorn stepping down as coach of @Reds_Rugby at end of season after 6 years. He made call before any review in this bye week. “The job’s not finished. We’ve got 6 games left + finals + we’ve a plan to get there” Overwhelming positive stint #superrugbypacific
— Jim Tucker (@HulaBulaJim) April 18, 2023
Interesting @Reds_Rugby news. Coach Brad Thorn will step aside at the end of @SuperRugby 2023. I guess it’s no surprise as he’s been there 6 years but not sure about timing of the announcement? Reds still very much in the play-off race so hopefully Thorny goes out on a high.
— Greg Clark (@greg_clarkie) April 18, 2023
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I think you could tell in this interview from January that Brad Thorn was unlikely to coach the @Reds_Rugby beyond this #SuperRugby season.
He just seemed a bit over it. As Thorn said a few weeks ago, he's had nearly 3 decades non-stop in professional sport. That takes a toll. https://t.co/Xa4EAqckak
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) April 18, 2023
Brad Thorn is still in the early stages of his coaching career.
But would love to hear a self-assessment of his strengths and weaknesses as a coach.
Also hope he isn't sacked because Aussie rugby can't afford to lose people with his fighting spirit and work ethic.
— Ben Alexander (@benny_alexander) April 8, 2023
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
82 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
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