Brad Thorn

NZ-born Brad Thorn dreamed of playing breakaway for the All Blacks but after coming to Australia at the age of eight he ultimately represented his adopted country as a rugby league forward. After signing with Brisbane in 1994 Thorn represented the Junior Kangaroos against Great Britain. He then turned down the opportunity to play for NZ in the 1995 World Cup because it would ruin his chance to play for Queensland in State of Origin. Thorn fulfilled that goal in 1996, and after playing for state and country during Super League’s 1997 season, made his ‘Test’ debut against NZ in 1998’s ANZac Test. The giant back-rower, a hard-hitting tackler with the ability to break the defensive line, played in all three Tests against NZ in a season that finished with Brisbane’s thrashing of C’bury in the grand final. Thorn was ruled out of the Australian team for the Tri Nations competition at the end of 1999 but following the Broncos’ win over the Roosters in the 2000 grand final he returned to NZ to play RU in the Super 12s competition in order to fulfill his childhood dream of representing the All Blacks. That done during his four seasons with the all-conquering Crusaders in 2001-04 he returned to the Broncos in 2005. The following year Thorn was in the second row as the Broncos won their first grand final since he left the club in 2000. Although he represented Queensland in the 2005 State of Origin series selectors resisted the temptation to recall the former All Black to the Australian Test team.