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How Brad Thorn's assistants are giving the Reds 'new life'
By AAP
As Brad Thorn weighs up his future as Queensland Reds coach, star flanker Fraser McReight says his new assistants might help make the decision for him.
The Reds will play the Super Rugby Pacific season, beginning next Saturday in Townsville against the Hurricanes, without injured prop Taniela Tupou (Achilles).
Fijian forward Peni Ravai has been added to help fill that large void while former Test lock Luke Jones is another key addition.
But it's Thorn's fresh sideline eyes that have Wallabies World Cup hopeful McReight buzzing.
Former Australia defence coach Phil Blake, University of Queensland's Mick Heenan (attack) and All Black-turned referee Kane Hames (scrums) will complement Thorn's long-time assistant Jim McKay this year.
"They've mixed really well, the coaches, to bring some new life into the team," McReight told AAP.
"Specialising in areas they excel ... they have different techniques that we can pick and choose from."
This will be Thorn's sixth season in charge, his tenure the longest in more than two decades at Ballymore.
The dual international is off contract though and tossing up his future after transitioning straight into coaching from an unparalleled cross-code playing career.
It's understood, to provide certainty for both parties, a decision won't be left until season's end.
But with the 2023 draw reverting to a traditional mix of games against foreign and domestic rivals from round one, Thorn and the Reds' decision makers will be afforded an early gauge.
And McReight is adamant the 2021 domestic champions can put their recent history of woe against New Zealand sides behind.
"Everyone's aware of the situation. We want to get results for Thorny," McReight said.
"There's a higher benchmark we want to achieve and everything will take care of itself in terms of what he wants to do.
"It's (the split draw) the best thing for us.
"We think we play similar styles (in Australia) but realistically the Kiwis play a better style; quicker footy, using a bit more skill.
"Definitely we should have delivered (on our potential) a few years ago, but there's more growth to be had in this squad."
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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