Reds rot will stop with Thorn, says boss

QUEENSLAND Rugby Union boss Richard Barker’s gut instinct is that new coach Brad Thorn is the man to stop the rot at the Reds.

Thorn, a well-travelled union and league veteran, was installed as head coach on Thursday, with Nick Stiles sacked after a four-win season in his first year at the helm.

Stiles follows former cocoach Matt O’Connor and Richard Graham to the Reds coaching scrap heap, while John Connolly was also hired and fired as an adviser in 2015.

Connolly was awarded $150,000 in court earlier this year for unfair termination, while Stiles will have his 2018 contract paid out just as O’Con- nor reportedly did last year.

Thorn himself admitted he was “new to the game” of coaching, but Barker is backing the 42-year-old in.

“You can’t steer away from the fact that some people will say ‘here we go again’, but we appointed him because we know he can do it,” Barker said.

“I think Brad will provide an enormous amount of stability.”

Thorn sympathised with Stiles, while the axed coach wished his successor well.

“Tough day, but I’m still on the right side of the grass and still a passionate Reds rugby man,” Stiles tweeted.

“Greatest regret is I won’t get to finish what we started. I wish Thorny all the best.”