Wallabies: Former All Black Brad Thorn has been ’cheering hard’ for his Reds players forging a bold Test path

Former All Black Brad Thorn has had to pull himself up after ‘cheering hard’ for his Queensland Reds players making an impact for the Wallabies.

James O'Connor is one Queensland player Brad Thorn wants to see thrive for the Wallabies. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Reds coach, father figure and former All Black Brad Thorn admits to having divided Bledisloe Cup loyalties.

Hostilities resume on Saturday in Sydney with New Zealand leading Australia 1-0 after two matches in the four-Test series.

With Queensland having a host of players in the Wallabies squad, All Blacks great Thorn felt torn watching the 16-16 draw in Wellington and New Zealand’s 27-7 win in Auckland.

“That was an awkward one watching the Wallabies-All Blacks Tests,” he said.

“I played 60 times for the All Blacks, and (I was) cheering hard for my (Reds) lads.

“I kept on having these ‘what’s going on here?’ moments.”

Thorn’s loyalty to his Reds players stems back to him overseeing their progress from his time as a Queensland development coach and then Queensland Country coach in the NRC competition.

“The thing that’s really important to me is that the parents hand them over to us,” he said.

“I feel a responsibility … you get quite connected and you do care about them, and you see from your own growing up, the stages that they’re at.

“Sometimes they need a tune up, sometimes they need a hug, sometimes it’s just a wise word, just listening to them … it’s about them becoming young men.”

👊 🇦🇺 First game on home soil.

Bledisloe 3 - BE THERE!
🗓️ Saturday 31 October 7.45pm AEDT
🏟️ ANZ Stadium
🎟️ Tickets HERE: https://t.co/ToPSCYtJlU
📺 @Foxtel & @Channel10AU #AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup #YourTeam #OurJourney pic.twitter.com/bC5DMuPGgl

— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 27, 2020

Thorn rated Australia a good chance of claiming the Bledisloe Cup by winning Saturday’s Test in Sydney and the following weekend’s Test in Brisbane.

“But it doesn’t matter what I think, they have to believe that,” he said.

“They (Australia) were competing hard (in Wellington and Auckland). Now they’re on Australian soil … I’m sure it will be toughly fought out.

“It’s salivating. I can’t wait to watch it.”

Originally published as Wallabies: Former All Black Brad Thorn has been ’cheering hard’ for his Reds players forging a bold Test path