Reds coach Brad Thorn has moved on from big-name exits
Brad Thorn does not hold any ill will towards Karmichael Hunt, James Slipper and Quade Cooper, because he’s too busy sharpening the Reds to look in that rear-vision mirror.
QLD Reds
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Reds. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Brad Thorn does not hold any ill will towards the trio of trumps he cleaned out because he’s too busy sharpening the Reds to look in that rear-vision mirror.
The forthright Reds coach was more like an opening batsman auditioning for a Gabba Test spot so close were bat and pad to every teasing question.
He played some elegant shots when excitedly chatting about Samu Kerevi as captain, winning ambitions and hard work in the pre-season.
He stonewalled the first three questions on Karmichael Hunt, James Slipper and Quade Cooper.
When pressed on whether there was any relief in resolving those off-field distractions of last year, Thorn said: “Not really, it is what it is.”
“There is just good stuff going on here at the Reds and that’s what I’m about.
“I’m pleased for a guy like Slips who is at the Brumbies. Karmichael is at the Waratahs.
“I wish them all well.
“You’re talking about last year, I mainly want to be talking about 2019 and I feel the time has been used well with planning and prep for our two good trial games coming up.”
Improvements in defence, kicking and consistency are a big season focus with a trial against Cooper’s Melbourne Rebels in Ballarat first up on February 1.
On Cooper, Thorn added: “I’m happy for Quade and wish him well too because he has had a tremendous connection with Will Genia and they’ll enjoy playing together.”
The Reds-Rebels trial has no “Thorn v Cooper” twist in the hard-edged coach’s mind.
“I don’t need people in other teams to want to win,” Thorn said.
When Hunt was finally unveiled this week as a NSW Waratah, it completed a year-long saga to reshape the Reds roster to meet Thorn’s high standards.
Slipper and Hunt both tripped up on drugs-related issues while Thorn must wonder how long he is going to be asked about Cooper because he stopped inviting him to Reds training nearly 14 months ago.
The Reds may not win Super Rugby this year but Thorn does not want a player in his squad who doesn’t think they can.
“What’s the point of all the hard work if there is not something inside you that wants to be in the last game,” Thorn said.
“We want to really have a go at this competition and making finals is where it starts.”
Foxtel is your home for the Aviva Premiership. SIGN UP NOW!
Originally published as Reds coach Brad Thorn has moved on from big-name exits
Wallabies bolter emerges in Reds’ four-point failing against ‘Canes
The son of a hard-nosed former Wallaby has rocketed into the frame for Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies squad to take on the physicality of the British and Irish Lions pack.
Sliding Reds ‘need to be better’
The Queensland Reds are searching for some answers to their dip in form ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific finals series.