Colman’s Call podcast: All Blacks and Broncos legend Brad Thorn reveals Paul Harragon admiration

COLMAN’S CALL PODCAST: Brad Thorn has revealed the player who inspired his 20-year career. And he’s not a Bronco or an All Black.

Brad Thorn and Paul Harragon face off during a Broncos-Knights game in 1998.

Brad Thorn has made a surprise revelation. The player he most admired when he was coming up through the grades wasn’t a Bronco or even an All Black.

In the second part of a far-reaching interview on The Courier-Mail’s Colman’s Call podcast, the most-successful dual-international says he found his role model in the jersey of the Newcastle Knights.

TAP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES

“When I was younger I used to look up to Paul Harragon, the Chief,” Thorn said. “He could bash you physically in a tackle or with his fists.

“I used to see him as a guy that I wanted to be like.”

Harragon’s ability to dominate opponents physically was certainly one that Thorn emulated in a remarkable 20-year career that saw him win just about every trophy that rugby union and rugby league have to offer.

Brad Thorn admired Paul Harragon’s ability to dominate a game with his physicality.

He has no doubts over which one meant the most to him, telling Colman’s Call that he has never been able to watch a replay of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

“Just because of what it meant to the country, what it meant to me, being born in New Zealand. A lot of me went into that. I was on my knees bawling like a baby after that win. I’ve never done that before. That’s how much was on the line.”

Thorn also revealed the identity of the South African Springbok who “took the best uppercut I ever threw”, and his admiration for the bravery of Wallaby open-side flankers George Smith and David Pocock.

Also in this week’s podcast, The Courier Mail’s chief league writer Peter Badel says the Broncos may have to lose Josh Maguire in order to keep “$1.5 Million Dollar Man” Anthony Milford; AFL writer Andrew Hamilton runs the rule over the chances of the Lions and Suns in season 2017, and boxing expert Grantlee Kieza previews the big world heavyweight title fight between Australia’s Lucas Browne and Shannon Briggs.

Originally published as Colman’s Call podcast: All Blacks and Broncos legend Brad Thorn reveals Paul Harragon admiration