Brad Thorn

Brad Thorn has had one of the most remarkable careers of any international player, having achieved legendary status in rugby’s two codes, and enjoying in each a record that on its own would be momentous.

He was firstly a top performer in Australia’s intense league competition as a first choice player over many years from 1994 to 2000 for the crack Brisbane club, the Broncos. A powerful second rower, Thorn won Grand finals with the Broncos, made the Queensland State of Origin side and appeared in eight tests for Australia.

But though he grew up entrenched in Australian league, Thorn had a strong New Zealand background, being born in Mosgiel, just out of Dunedin, and coming from a family and an area steeped in rugby. He went to Brisbane with his family as an eight-year who then had a dream of becoming an All Black.

Thorn first moved to rugby in 2001, joining Canterbury and playing for the dominant Super side, the Crusaders. His Broncos coach, the illustrious Wayne Bennett, praised Thorn for this choice, saying that it was typical of his quest for the perfection that he would opt to try to prove himself in a new code by playing for what was then, as it has been often since, the best provincial side in the world.

At first Thorn was used as a flanker in rugby, and it was thought then that with his league background he would be probably better suited to the loose forwards, either as a flanker or No 8. His comparative short stature for a top lock, 1.95m in an era when many international locks were 2m or moree, was expected to put him at a disadvantage in that position.

However, it soon became clear that any height problems would be overcome by his power and physical presence. One curiosity of Thorn’s success as a rugby player has proven to be his ability in set-pieces, especially scrummaging.

In 2001 there were still some rough edges to Thorn’s rugby, but after playing in the Canterbury side which won the NPC title that year he was chosen for the All Blacks end-of-year tour. Thorn astonished everyone in New Zealand by withdrawing from the tour, offering as his reason that he did not feel he was quite ready for such a step and had not to that point earned it.

Thorn played neither rugby nor league in 2002, returning to Canterbury and the Crusaders in 2003, winning at last his All Black place and, while still being used as mainly a blindside flanker, finishing the year with 12 test caps, of which seven were in that year’s World Cup.

Thorn had another year in Canterbury in 2004, but the new management regime led by Graham Henry omitted him from the All Blacks, and at the end of that season he returned to league and the Broncos and another three eventful years in his old code.

He was not expected to be seen again in rugby, but in 2008 made a surprise return to the 15-man game when he was called in as a replacement for the Crusaders in the Super 14. Ironically, the man responsible for Thorn’s comeback was then Crusaders coach, Robbie Deans, who soon after would be coaching the Wallabies against Henry’s All Blacks, for whom Thorn would become a key player.

This time Thorn began to play with authority as a lock, playing 12 tests in 2008 and remaining a first choice for the next three seasons, including a major part in the 2011 World Cup triumph. By this time Thorn was 36 years old, but still superbly fit, mentally and physically strong and beyond argument the All Blacks senior lock.

Thorn was admired all over New Zealand, but revered especially in Canterbury. He played 92 games for the Crusaders, another 30 for Canterbury at NPC level and with his 60 All Black games, including 59 tests, was approaching 200 first class games when he left after the World Cup for a Japan club contract. When his league career, which amounted to well in excess of 200 games, including 200 alone for the Broncos, is added, Thorne’s tally of major games far exceeds 400. And not only did he win premiership league titles and Origin matches but in rugby sundry Super and NPC titles, the Ranfurly Shield, tri-nations titles, Bledisloe Cup tests and above all, rugby’s World Cup. Thorn, truly, has been a one-off.

When it was once said that Thorn had clearly learnt much from Canterbury one of his team-mates replied that they had actually learnt more from him. Thorn, this team-mate said, had taught everyone how to be a professional.