New coach drills ethos into Reds
NEW coach Brad Thorn is not the sort of character to promise finals glory just so fans can feel warm and fuzzy heading into Christmas but he can promise his Queensland Reds will care deeply about the cause they are fighting for.
Just as he played football for two decades, Thorn’s honest, get- the- job- done approach is one of the best traits he will bring to the challenge of again turning the Reds into a force in Super Rugby.
He will work his remodelled squad hard in training, hard in the gym and hard with standards to make sure there is a better reflection of the team’s undoubted talent than the four wins of 2017.
Building team culture has always been a passionate theme for him as demonstrated by the tight bonds formed within the Queensland Country side he steered to a National Rugby Championship triumph.
Thorn will hammer the same drum at the Reds to build on the improved culture that outgoing coach Nick Stiles made a priority.
“No. 1, is care ... I want the players to care about each other, care for the cause and care about the state, families and fans they represent,” Thorn said.
More than anywhere he wants that to show in what the Reds put into their defence because the 2017 Reds upgraded their attack sharply to score 46 tries in 15 games.
“I take defence personally. It’s a reflection of character ... what you want to do for the mate beside you,” Thorn said.
The Reds have assembled a strong squad with stable trumps, re- signings, the huge growth in squad members like Duncan Paia’aua, Taniela Tupou and Caleb Timu and the development of Thorn’s own crop of Queensland Under- 20s from the past two seasons.
What style can fans expect when the Super Rugby season opens against the Wallaby- encrusted Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne on February 23?
“Traits? We want an all- round game with a high skillset so guys from fullback to the front- row feel comfortable with the ball and making decisions with it,” Thorn said.
Signing NRC wing standout Filipo Daugunu, the flying Fijian who ran in try after try, also reflects another Thorn demand ... speed.
Thorn won trophies at the top in rugby league and with the 2011 World Cup- winning All Blacks. Those conquests were never created by going through a side door.
His 2018 Reds team will be direct and assertive.
“Physicality is something I’ve always enjoyed. It’s a contact sport we’re playing and that’s got to come with a competitive mindset,” Thorn said.