'I came out of the womb a competitor': Thorn ready for final Reds challenge

Brad Thorn says he was born ready for a testing fortnight that may decide how he leaves the Queensland Reds after 5 years in cost.

The Reds’ 45-26 loss to the Blues at Suncorp Stadium left the coach smarting in what was his final recreation in cost at the venue he’s identified for greater than three many years throughout two codes.

It adopted their historic win in opposition to the Chiefs in New Zealand and left the aspect teetering in seventh, simply six factors clear of ninth and at risk of lacking finals.

“Actually disappointing,” the Reds coach stated.

“It was tight at halftime (down 17-14), had alternatives and errors harm us and in case you give them alternatives they harm us.

“You solely get so many possibilities in opposition to good sides.”

Thorn has opted to not proceed as coach subsequent season, with video games in opposition to the Highlanders (3-8) in Dunedin and Fijian Drua (4-7) to find out their destiny.

It’s the Drua sitting in ninth forward of Saturday’s date with the Waratahs, the second-year membership looming as a tough proposition ought to a finals spot be on the line in the final recreation of the common season in Suva on June 3.

Thorn gave little thought to the event on Friday night time, in what might be his final time in cost of a crew at the floor he referred to as dwelling with the Broncos in the NRL.

“It’s not type of how I believe,” the twin worldwide stated.

“For me, it’s every week, every mission, attempting to get a outcome.

“We’ve obtained two extra video games to get our recreation collectively and we’ve obtained some work to do. It’s in entrance of us.

“I came out of the womb a competitor.”

The Reds will hope James O’Connor (concussion) will journey to face the Highlanders, whereas Hunter Paisami (knee) is a likelihood of bolstering their midfield in the final spherical.

Co-captain Liam Wright has discovered his finest kind in current weeks and can guarantee he’s a menace at the breakdown at Forsyth Barr Stadium subsequent Friday.

“It’s going to check the coronary heart of our complete squad,” Wright stated of their top-eight pursuit.

“We get to bond, knuckle down on our recreation plan and actually struggle for one another and for Queensland.”