Thorn finds ticker, fight in Reds
Reds coach Brad Thorn saw ticker, fight and a changing culture in Queensland’s 18-7 win over the Jaguares.
They’re qualities rarely seen in Reds teams of the past four years, fans subsequently turning away in droves.
But gritty performances like the win on Sunday, in which Queensland tackled themselves to a second half standstill, will bring those same fans back through the gates of Suncorp Stadium.
Winning helps, too, and the 3-1 start to the season marks a superb opening month under the guidance of Thorn.
“To come here after a massive week of travel, to have a good week and to get the job done today is pretty special,” Thorn said post match.“I keep going back to Queensland U20s and Queensland Country – where I just wanted to see something, to change the culture.
“They’re responding in spades, aren’t they.
“We are a work in progress, everyone can see it and there are many things that we need to get better at.
“But there is ticker, there is fight, you don’t walk away from the ground or the TV set thinking those guys don’t have a go.”
Thorn was bursting with pride when he said the team now represented their state in showing grit and determination through their third straight win.
“I said weeks ago that Queensland is remembering who Queenslanders are,” he said.“Ever since I’ve been in the state, when I come across Queenslanders they’ve got ticker, they fight, they put it all out there and it’s great to get the job done.
“To come here against Argentina, where they love their scrummaging and eating red meat, to do the business was special.”
A large portion of that ticker was shown in the forward pack, where Thorn’s young core drove were ubiquitous in defence.
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“The defensive effort was huge and I thought the pack was big at scrum time,” he said.
“We have been working on our lineout defence on our own ball, our mauling, all sorts of stuff.
“Sometimes we overdo it but I guess we’re a young side.
“We will learn and continue to grow and get that composure.”
The Reds now travel to Cape Town, where they will face the Stormers.
