Thorn's missing title
May 30 2008
There is not much Brad Thorn has not achieved, be it in Rugby League or Rugby Union, yet one title that is missing from his collection is a Super Rugby winners medal.
Having won titles in League with the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australia, as well as an NPC title with Canterbury to go with his 12 All Blacks caps, Thorn is after the Super 14 title on Saturday.
He played in the 2003 Super 12 final against the Blues in Auckland and lined up again a year later against the Brumbies in Canberra but - surprisingly for the Crusaders - lost on both occasions.
And Dan Carter, Thorn's team-mate, has revealed how it is still a sore point with Thorn.
"He loves talking about the titles that he has won but obviously Super 14 or 12 is not one of them," Carter told NZPA.
"He does bring that up every now and then. Winning would be a dream result for him."
There may even be a double success for the second row this weekend, as after the final All Blacks coach Graham Henry will add Crusaders players to his squad.
Crusaders coach and Wallabies mentor Robbie Deans will surprised if he's not coaching against Thorn later this year in Bledisloe Cup Tests.
"He was here in 2004 when supposedly we had a locking crisis and they didn't name him," Deans said.
"He's earned that right and I'd be pretty confident that he will be named."
Crusaders and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was stunned at how efficiently Thorn had slotted back into the 15-man code after having returned to the Broncos in 2005.
"I believe he's played better rugby than when he left, three years ago," McCaw said.
"For a guy to be away for that long and slot in as if nothing's changed, and if not got better, shows the calibre of the sportsman he is.
"Guys who have been playing non-stop are still learning lots and he's just slotted in as if he's been doing the same."
McCaw admired the Thorn attitude to training as well as the power he brought to the tight exchanges.
"I know props talk about what he does in the scrums. He's a big strong specimen and he's been great to have," McCaw said.
"He loves the gym. He won't like me saying, he was strutting around with his shirt off after training showing everyone."
Converted Waratahs winger Lote Tuqiri is a former Broncos and Queensland League team-mate and believes Thorn's achievements deserved more recognition.
"Brad Thorn has led the way, I think, in terms of converts," Tuqiri said.
"He's been phenomenal in both codes.
"It's obviously harder for a forward coming from League to Union and getting used to lifting and jumping."