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Thorn the final piece in Australian Super Rugby coaching puzzle

Reds coach Brad Thorn. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

All four Australian Super Rugby head coaches have been locked in for next year, with Brad Thorn agreeing to a one-season extension at the Queensland Reds.

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Thorn, 44, will remain at Ballymore until at least the end of the 2020 campaign and it’s confirmed he will retain the same assistant staff, including attack coach Jim McKay and defence coach Peter Ryan.

The former All Blacks forward and rugby league star joins Waratahs counterpart Daryl Gibson in signing for another 12 months. Brumbies coach Dan McKellar and Melbourne Rebels mentor Dave Wessels have both committed to 2021.

The Reds finished third from bottom in Thorn’s maiden season in charge last year and sit ninth midway through the current campaign following three wins and four losses.

His tenure has been notable for a ruthless approach to selection, ignoring the merits of star playmaker Quade Cooper throughout 2018 while omitting fellow-Wallabies Karmichael Hunt and James Slipper after their involvement in drug-related indiscretions.

All three have departed to other Australian teams, leaving Thorn overseeing a relatively young squad.

Queensland Rugby Union chief executive David Hanham said Thorn’s vision has its full support.

“We remain focused on our medium and long-term coaching strategies that are aimed at creating a strong rugby program at Ballymore,” he said.

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“Brad and his coaching team emphasise the importance of leadership, hard work and humility to the squad each day and we continue to be confident we will reap the rewards of this approach as this squad gains more Super Rugby experience.”

Thorn said he believes the Reds are headed in the right direction and the players are developing the humble and hard-working attitude it takes to succeed.

“Our focus remains on growing our game and improving as a group every week,” he said.

“There’ll be obstacles in front of us but we’ve established a good Rugby program and will build on it.”

The Reds are in South Africa, preparing for matches against the Bulls and Sharks.

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Nickers 26 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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