Scott Higginbotham named Queensland Reds captain for 2018 Super Rugby season

IN his first media appearance for two months, Reds coach Brad Thorn covered his club’s new skipper, Quade Cooper’s exit, the Karmichael Hunt fallout and George Smith’s apology.

BRAD Thorn has spoken for the first time about the tough call to cut Quade Cooper adrift from his Reds plans and give him free rein to sign with another club.

The work-more, talk-less style of the new Reds coach meant Thorn had a bigger backlog of issues to dissect than a parliament with citizenship dramas.

In his first media appearance for two months, Thorn announced the strong appointment of Scott Higginbotham as skipper of a Reds team he wants to show “far more fight.”

It also meant explaining why Cooper was superfluous after a 117-game Reds career, the Karmichael Hunt fallout and how George Smith had apologised after a messy Tokyo incident.

Scott Higginbotham will lead the Reds in 2018.

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In the politest way, Thorn hinted it would take a Steven Bradbury situation with every fit five-eighth falling over for Cooper to get a look in when he starts club rugby with Souths.

“It’s a change of direction, it’s just footy,” Thorn said. “I thought Quade last year ... the team struggled.

“You know, game management, his attack, his defence ... he gave his best effort and he’s a club man but I just wanted a change in the way we’re going.

“It was a tough decision but you’ve got to make them because there hasn’t been much success around here for the four or five years we’ve been at the bottom.”

Thorn will start tuning his flyhalf choice in Friday night’s 5.15pm intra-squad trial at Ballymore in front of the club faithful at the Reds Fan Day.

“We’ve got some depth around that position with Hamish Stewart coming through, Jono Lance (still sidelined with a broken hand) and Ben Lucas, who can all play there,” Thorn said.

“It’s competitive which is what I’m getting a little bit excited about across a lot of positions.

“If Quade had a good opportunity (to sign at another club) I wouldn’t hold him back because he’s a guy who has served this club really well.”

Former skipper James Slipper was overlooked.

The cocaine allegations swirling around Hunt and his court appearances mean the Reds must find a new fullback for the Super Rugby opener against the Rebels in Melbourne on February 23.

Back surgery for flanker Smith was another curveball to rattle plans.

“Some parts (of the off-season) suck but part of me says ‘bring it on’ because I like the fight and that’s how I want the club to be,” Thorn said.

“I want the team to be up for the fight, always.”

Brad Thorn is already leaving his mark at Ballymore.

Backrower Higginbotham, 31, was delighted to earn the nod as captain and the honour meant even more bestowed by Thorn, a decorated All Black and dual international.

“It’s something very special when someone like Thorny thinks of me like that,” Higginbotham said.

Higginbotham will make his return from a neck nerve issue in the trial after an extended off-season refresher since being grounded by the problem last June.

Originally published as Scott Higginbotham named Queensland Reds captain for 2018 Super Rugby season