The Brisbane Broncos’ hunt for a new head coach has begun, as Kevin Walters vacates the role after four years at the helm.
Few jobs in Australian sport come with the sort of pressure of leading the powerhouse club – a team flushed with a history of success, only to now find themselves without a premiership since 2006.
But while it is most likely they will seek an experienced NRL coach – South Sydney premiership-winner and New South Wales Blues’ coach Michael Maguire suggested as a leading contender – there is one left-field option to consider.
Brad Thorn has not been involved in rugby league since he played his 200th game for the Broncos in 2007, the club he won four premierships with across two stints.
After finishing his playing career in rugby union, the now 47-year-old coached the Queensland Reds for six years before stepping down after their quarter-final defeat to the Chiefs in 2023.
There is no suggestion Thorn would even throw his name in the ring, nor any indication the Broncos would take the risk on someone who is yet to coach in the NRL.
The belief is the club will seek an experienced rugby league campaigner who can build on Walters’ legacy and finetune key areas. Thorn’s lack of recent NRL exposure, given how fast-paced the game has become, would work against him if he decided to throw his hand up.
But based on the appraisals he received in his time at the Reds, his character is perhaps the ideal tonic for a Broncos’ outfit in need of tough love.
“I’ve been proud to represent my state in this role. I grew up from the age of nine here, and it means a lot to me,” Thorn said after his final game with the Reds.
“But it’s a fair amount of time six years. It’s time to take a breath and consider the future.”
Even if being Brisbane’s head coach was a stretch, after more than a year out of a professional environment, Thorn’s presence around this group would be telling.
He upholds hard-work above all, drills a high standard in his players, demands accountability and does not tolerate complacency.
That approach took the Reds from six straight seasons in which they finished no higher than 13th, to two Super Rugby Australia grand finals – and one premiership – while making a pair of quarterfinals in the expanded Super Rugby Pacific competition.
Those qualities led Reds co-captain Tate McDermott to sing Thorn’s praise, having been ushered into the fold by the former Maroon.
If not him, should a man biding his time be given consideration?
Cronulla assistant Josh Hannay has been touted as a future head coach, and has a rapport with the Broncos’ State of Origin contingent Pat Carrigan, Selwyn Cobbo and Reece Walsh.
Maroons boss Billy Slater has praised the way Hannay has evolved Queensland’s defensive structures in State of Origin, while he also held interim lead roles at the North Queensland Cowboys (2020) and Sharks (2021).
In both cases, he was forced to adapt in difficult circumstances following the midseason exits of Paul Green and John Morris respectively.
Hannay was reportedly in a two-horse race for the Parramatta Eels job following Brad Arthur’s axing. Jason Ryles won the race for the role, but Cronulla head coach Craig Fitzgibbon endorsed Hannay as someone who should be backed to lead.
“We’d hope someday Josh does get an opportunity. He’s obviously a wonderful coach, he did a terrific job with Queensland and does amazing work with us,” Fitzgibbon said.
“I’d love to keep him here, I’m not going to lie, but if a club like Brisbane are in the running he should be looking at that.”
The Broncos’ defence became a point of widespread scrutiny in the second half of the season, leaking an average of 29.78 points per game from round 12.
But Hannay, like Thorn, comes defensive minded, and has garnered praise from Maroons coach Billy Slater.
Last year’s second Origin clash showcased a series of clutch try saving tackles from left edge duo Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Murray Taulagi.
When Slater was asked post-game about what had cultivated that intent, he said:
“It’d be a great question for Josh Hannay.
“He’s done a lot of work with those guys. He’s created some good principles in their game, defensively especially, and that shows out there under pressure.
“If anyone needs a bit of credit for that, that’s Josh Hannay.”
The reality is, there are few experienced head coaches available.
The leading options – Maguire, Brad Arthur, Justin Holbrook, Trent Barrett and Jason Demetriou – have all been axed in the past two years.
Perhaps the way forward is a fresh mind; one with new ideas, evolving philosophies, and a desire to make their mark.
Sydney Morning Herald
