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Brad Thorn's State of Origin secret behind Reds' victory to end Blues season

By Online Editors
Reds head coach Brad Thorn. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Queensland’s State of Origin team didn’t just send a message to their opponents with a bruising defensive set in Wednesday’s series opener, they inspired Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn.

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The former All Black made 11 appearances for the Maroons during his rugby league career and was a keen watcher as Queensland came from behind to beat NSW 18-14 at Suncorp Stadium.

A set of six at the start of the second half where Queensland repeatedly smashed the Blues particularly resonated, and Thorn used it as an example for his players before their Super Rugby clash with Auckland’s Blues at the same venue on Friday.

Just like their rugby league counterparts, the Reds overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Blues 29-28 – their first win over a New Zealand-based team in 16 attempts.

“I talked to the lads yesterday at the captain’s run, just around the Origin game,” Thorn said.

“From what I saw there was a set of six there where they just decided to win.

“You improve and you get better and you do stuff but there’s that next bit where you decide to win games.

“I’m not saying we’re there yet but we fought it out, we found a way to get that result. That was important.”

Saturday’s win was just the sixth of the season for the Reds but gave the home fans the chance send veteran second-rower Scott Higginbotham out a winner in his final match at Suncorp Stadium for the franchise.

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The game is also expected to be the last time captain Samu Kerevi plays on home soil for the Reds with a deal to join Japanese club Suntory after this year’s World Cup already believed to be signed.

For Thorn though, the most important thing was heeding the lesson of Wednesday’s Origin match and refusing to lose.

“We started off, we were flat, there was some easy tries we gave them,” he said.

“We like doing things the hard way.

“They got there in the end, they made it happen. There’s a difference between just losing and making it happen, getting the win.

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“I like to think that we’ll get some belief out of that.”

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Trevor 32 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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