Delivering hard truths is part and parcel of any elite coach’s job, and Brad Thorn has been busy at work after signing a two-year contract extension to remain Queensland Reds coach until 2023.
It’s thanks to Thorn’s early work with the Super Rugby side that he’s recently earned calls as a potential successor at the Australia helm, having made a fast start to life as a coach.
The Reds look to be back in business with Thorn in charge, beating the Brumbies to the Super Rugby AU title earlier this year.
However, the ex-All Black has bigger goals in mind after penning his new deal at Suncorp Stadium, specifically in regards to catching up with New Zealand ’s franchises.
Despite clinching the Super Rugby AU crown with eight wins from nine games, the Reds were exposed in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman contest, winning just once in five games against Kiwi opposition.
"To go to that next level is a big step, I want to be consistently beating New Zealand teams to think about going to that next level. You’ve got to earn the right in my opinion,” Thorn told reporters after his Reds extension was announced.
"But alongside that I've got a young family, teenage kids, that I like being around. I've spent a lot of my career with my rugby, the All Blacks and that, being away, it's really important being around [now]. My No. 1 job is my family, my wife and my four kids. It's not something that I'm looking at the moment.
"I wasn't a player that would sit there going 'one day I'm going to coach, I'm going to be a career coach, it's going to be a career for me. All I know is I've done four years and I'm committed to two. And like I said, it'll probably be a similar thing, achieve in that time or leave it in a better place.”
Incumbent Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is under increased pressure after losing three games back-to-back against New Zealand, most recently suffering a 38-21 defeat in Perth on Sunday.
Rennie, 57, became just the second New Zealand native to coach Australia after Robbie Deans was appointed the first in 2008, and Thorn could one day carry that torch.
Brumbies boss Dan McKellar—who is currently serving as Rennie’s assistant—is largely viewed as the likely heir to the Wallabies throne.
Otaga-born Thorn—who earned 59 caps for the All Blacks during a 22-year rugby career—is also among the emerging candidates to take over.
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When asked about his international allegiances in regards to possibly coaching the Wallabies, the 46-year-old was quick to remind he began his rugby career as a league player in Australia.
"At international level, you've got to remember that I actually represented Australia in rugby league; super proud to represent this country, and Queensland. I came here when I was nine years old. Like I said, this is my home, this is where I see home,” Thorn said.
"New Zealand is where I'm from and I love New Zealand; nothing ever changes there. I'm sort of like a guy with two places really.
"But Brisbane's my home and living in Australia is just a privilege and if I was one day honoured to get that [Wallabies] job, I'd be happy to take on all comers. And being a guy who loves a challenge, you don't get many tougher challenges than the All Blacks.”
It was as a 19-year-old that Thorn debuted with league outfit the Brisbane Broncos in 1994, earning credentials with Queensland and Australia before diverting his attention to union in 2001.
The legendary lock made his New Zealand debut two years later and cemented his spot as a modern great in an eight-year international career, retiring from duty after winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Thorn went on to represent the likes of Leinster and Leicester Tigers before hanging up his boots in 2016 at the ripe age of 41, though he’s since made a big splash in the coaching sector.
Australia are still seeking their first win of this year’s Rugby Championship and hope to secure it when they host South Africa in the third round of the competition on Sunday.
Thorn appears open to one day leading his adopted nation if given the chance, but the former Wallabies enemy appears content to keep building his CV at Ballymore for the time being.
