Brad Thorn

Bradley Carnegie Thorn (born 3 February 1975) is a rugby union coach and former rugby league and rugby union player. Born in New Zealand, he represented Australia in rugby league and New Zealand in rugby union in a 22-season career as a player. He is currently the head coach of the Queensland Reds.

Brad Thorn
Personal information
Full nameBradley Carnegie Thorn
Born (1975-02-03) 3 February 1975
Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand
Playing information
Height195 cm (6 ft 5 in)[1]
Weight114 kg (17 st 13 lb)[1]
Rugby league
PositionSecond-row, Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1994–00 Brisbane Broncos 130 22 0 0 88
2005–07 Brisbane Broncos 70 10 0 0 40
Total 200 32 0 0 128
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1996–05 Queensland 11 1 0 0 4
1997 Queensland SL 3 0 0 0 0
1997 Australia SL 5 1 0 0 4
1998 Australia 3 2 0 0 8
Rugby union
PositionLock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2001–04, 08–11 Crusaders 92 11 0 0 55
2001–04, 08–10 Canterbury 30 4 0 0 20
2008 Tasman 1 0 0 0 0
2011–12 Sanix Blues 10 0 0 0 0
2012 Leinster 8 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Highlanders 16 1 0 0 5
2014–15 Leicester 12 1 0 0 5
2016 Queensland Country 2 0 0 0 0
Total 171 17 0 0 85
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–11 New Zealand 59 4 0 0 20
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2017–2018 Queensland Country 10 8 0 2 80
2018– Queensland Reds 17 6 0 11 35
Total 27 14 0 13 52
Source: [2][3][4]

Thorn played rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League competition for a total of ten seasons in two spells, and represented Queensland in the State of Origin series. He played eight times for Australia - five for the Kangaroos, and three games for the Super League Australia team. His preferred position in rugby league was in the second-row, though he was equally effective as a prop. In 2000 Thorn was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.

He first moved to rugby union in 2001 and, over two spells in the sport, became one of the most successful rugby union players. A lock, he was the first player to win a World Cup, a Super Rugby title and the Heineken Cup, despite only moving to the sport in his mid-twenties.[5] He won 59 international caps for New Zealand, and was part of the team that won the 2011 World Cup.

After retiring in 2015, he became a coach, and was appointed head coach of the Reds in October 2017.

Early life

Having relocated with his family from New Zealand to Australia at age eight, Thorn's junior football was rugby league played in Queensland with Aspley and Wests Arana. He was signed as a junior with the Brisbane Broncos in 1994 and that same year represented Australia in the Junior Kangaroos side.

Playing career

Rugby league (1994–2000)

Thorn made his first grade debut in the NSWRL for the Brisbane Broncos, who were then defending premiers, in the 1994 Winfield Cup season's 12th round against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. At season's end he was awarded the club's rookie of the year award.

At the outbreak of the Super League war in 1995 Thorn, along with the rest of his Broncos teammates and players of several other clubs, was aligned with Super League and so ineligible for selection in the Australian Rugby League's 1995 State of Origin series or post-season 1995 Rugby League World Cup. The following year, when all players were again allowed to be selected for representative football, Thorn's debut for the Queensland Maroons came in Game I of the 1996 State of Origin series. He held his place at second-row forward for all three games of that series.

In the 1997 Super League season Thorn played in all three games for Queensland in that year's Super League Tri-series. He also made his international debut for Australia against New Zealand. Thorn won his first premiership with the Broncos when they defeated the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the 1997 Super League grand final in Brisbane. In the 1997 post season, Thorn was selected to travel to England and play for Australia at prop forward in all three matches of the Super League Test series against Great Britain, scoring a try in the third and deciding test victory. It was on this tour that his front-row partner Jason Stevens helped convince Thorn to convert to Christianity.[6]

Following the sport's re-unification under the National Rugby League, Thorn was selected in Game II of the 1998 State of Origin series. He also continued to represent Australia in all three Tests of the 1998 international series against New Zealand. Thorn also played at second-row forward in the Broncos' victory at the 1998 NRL Grand Final, winning his second premiership ring.

Thorn was selected to play for Queensland again in Game III of 1999 State of Origin series and all three matches of the 2000 State of Origin series. He then played at second-row forward for the Broncos in their 2000 NRL Grand Final win over the Sydney Roosters, claiming a third premiership.

Rugby union (2001–04)

In 2001 Thorn moved to New Zealand and switched to rugby union, playing for the Crusaders in the Super 12 and Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship. He was part of the Canterbury squad that won the NPC in 2001. He had initially been picked for the end of year All Black tour in 2001 but he pulled out due to his own uncertainty of commitment to the 15-man game.[7] In 2003, Thorn went on to play for New Zealand's All Blacks, appearing in 12 tests, including the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup. He thus became a dual rugby-code international, the second man in history (after Bill Hardcastle) to have represented Australia in league and New Zealand in union. In 2004 Thorn won the NPC with Canterbury. He also won the Tri-Nations with NZ in 2003.

Rugby league (2005–07)

In 2005 Thorn moved back to Brisbane and the National Rugby League, again playing with the Broncos for another three years. He enjoyed further representative selection for Queensland in all three games of the 2005 State of Origin series, scoring a try in Game II.

Thorn claimed another premiership ring when he played at second-row in the Broncos' 2006 NRL Grand Final victory over the Melbourne Storm. As 2006 NRL Premiers, the Broncos travelled to England to face 2006 Super League champions, St Helens in the 2007 World Club Challenge. Thorn played at second-row forward in the Broncos' 14–18 loss.

During the 2007 NRL season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Thorn.[8] At the close of the 2007 NRL season Thorn switched codes once again, moving back to New Zealand to continue his rugby union career.

Rugby union (2008–15)

Thorn signed with Tasman Rugby Union in October, 2007, making him again eligible for the Crusaders. He won the Super 14 competition with the Crusaders in 2008 against the Waratahs in superb style with a 20–12 win. He thus became the second person to win both a Super Rugby title and an NRL title. This feat was first achieved by Peter Ryan for the Brisbane Broncos in 1998 and the Brumbies in 2001, and since Thorn, only by former Crusaders teammate Sonny Bill Williams and Queensland Reds/Melbourne Storm player Will Chambers in 2012. After his contribution to the Crusaders, Thorn was selected for the All Blacks to play the first test of 2008 against Ireland in Wellington. He won a second Tri-Nations with New Zealand in 2008 and a third in 2010.

Thorn with the William Webb Ellis Cup

During the 2011 Super Rugby season, Thorn signed a deal to join Japanese club Fukuoka Sanix Blues in the Japanese Top League after the Rugby World Cup. On 23 October 2011, Thorn was part of the All Blacks team which won the Rugby World Cup 2011, beating France 8–7 in the Final.

In March 2012, during the Japanese off season, Thorn signed a 3-month short-term contract with European champions Leinster.[9] Leinster went on to win the 2012 Heineken Cup and Thorn started at lock in the final. Achieving this title meant Thorn was the first player to win a World Cup, a Super Rugby title and the Heineken Cup.[5] He has since been joined in this feat by Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw and Bryan Habana.

Brad Thorn appearing as a substitute for Leinster during the 2012 Pro12 Final

In October 2012, it was reported that Thorn has agreed in principle to join the Highlanders Super rugby franchise for the 2013 season.[10] Thorn would be joining the Dunedin-based franchise with incoming World Cup final teammates Ma'a Nonu and Tony Woodcock both of whom were joining from the Blues in Auckland.

On 4 May 2013 against the Sharks in Dunedin Thorn played his 100th Super rugby game.

In 2014 a bicep injury which required surgery ended his season and called into question whether Thorn would be able to reach his stated goal of playing rugby union professionally until age 40. However, in August 2014, Thorn decided to extend his career once again, signing a deal with English club Leicester Tigers.[11]

On 8 April 2015, Thorn announced that he would retire at the end of the 2014–15 season.[12]

In 2016, Thorn came out of retirement, aged 41, and played for Queensland Country in Australia's National Rugby Championship.

Playing longevity

Thorn's extended playing career - 22 seasons as a professional - has been attributed to his professional approach, including focuses on stretching, listening to his body, and doing only light weights when he felt that was right for him.[13] Thorn is known for his strength and his dedication to weight training throughout his career.

Coaching career

On 12 May 2015, Thorn was announced as the Queensland Reds Elite Development Squad forwards coach for the next three seasons, starting in November 2015. He surprised observers at his first media appearance as a member of the Reds coaching staff, stating he would happily play for the Reds the next season if needed, "There's always an urge – I actually said at the time I didn't retire, I'm just playing less now", Thorn also said "If things were on dire straits I'm happy to help out,".[14]

Thorn was appointed as an assistant coach of Queensland Country for the 2016 National Rugby Championship and was made head coach of the team for the 2017 season.[15]

In October 2017 he was appointed head coach of the Reds, following the firing of Nick Stiles.

Honours

Rugby league

Brisbane Broncos

  • Super League title 1997[16]
  • 1997 World Club Championship
  • NRL titles in 1998, 2000, and 2006[16]

State of Origin

  • 14 appearances for Queensland
  • State of Origin titles with Queensland, 1998[17] and 1999[18]

Kangaroos

Rugby union

Canterbury

Crusaders

New Zealand

Leinster

Awards
  • Brisbane Broncos, 1994 Rookie of the Year[27]
  • Brisbane Broncos award for Best Forward, 1997, 2000 and 2006[27]
  • Brisbane Broncos award for Most Consistent, 2005[27]
  • Brisbane Broncos award for Defence Play of the Year, 2007[27]
  • Identified as one of the Broncos' 20 best players to play for the club[28]
  • Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league
  • Nominee for the 2010 New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year (the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Trophy)[29]

References
  1. "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com.
  2. "Brad Thorn - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  3. Brad Thorn at AllBlacks.com
  4. Yesterday's Hero
  5. Stoney, Emma (2 June 2012). "Brad Thorn, Rugby Star, Keeps Winning Titles at 37". The New York Times.
  6. "Brad Thorn: All Black with God on his side". Times Online. 22 November 2008.
  7. "Thorn pulls out of All Blacks squad". BBC Sport. 5 November 2001. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
  8. Dekroo, Karl (9 May 2007). "Still the king". The Courier-Mail. Australia: Queensland Newspapers. Archived from the original on 12 May 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Highlanders set to have Thorn in their side". Stuff. 8 October 2012.
  11. "Brad Thorn joins English club Leicester". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 August 2014.
  12. "Brad Thorn: Leicester Tigers lock announces retirement". BBC Sport. 8 April 2015.
  13. Walsh, David. "One of the reasons I am enjoying my retirement is because I have not dived into anything yet" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  14. The Courier-Mail, 2015
  15. "Brad Thorn to coach Queensland Country in National Rugby Championship". Fox Rugby. 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  16. "Highlanders happy to have Thorn in its side". Stuff. 30 January 2013.
  17. 1998 State of Origin series
  18. 1999 State of Origin series
  19. "Sport". 10 play.
  20. "Ranfurly Shield defence excites Thorn". Stuff. 14 October 2010.
  21. "Brad Thorn's milestone marks end of pain". Stuff. 7 May 2013.
  22. "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com.
  23. "All Blacks". 1 NEWS.
  24. Murray, Scott (23 October 2011). "Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand v France – as it happened". The Guardian. London.
  25. "Brad Carnegie Thorn". ESPN scrum.
  26. "Triple title feat stuns the ageless Brad Thorn". Stuff. 20 May 2012.
  27. Brisbane Broncos Honours
  28. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/still-the-king/story-e6freon6-1111113503079
  29. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Sources
  • Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
  • Big League's 25 Years of Origin Collectors' Edition, News Magazines, Surry Hills, Sydney
  • Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney
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