White Poiner
Coach
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i was wondering will we need another foward for next year then i seen this article on brad thorn. it is pretty obvious that we will not sign him but we have hope.
well here it is.
A RETURN to rugby league and the Brisbane Broncos could be on the cards for Brad Thorn after the Crusaders lock was dropped from the All Blacks rugby union squad.
The former Kangaroo rugby league international has been weighing up his playing future and the decision to leave him out of new coach Graham Henry's 26-man New Zealand squad named today could well be the deciding factor.
"It was difficult to get the news and I'm disappointed," Thorn said in a brief statement released by the Crusaders.
"My plans now are just to take some time out and be with my wife and son and then go from there."
Henry and New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief executive Chris Moller said they hoped Thorn would stay with the game.
There has already been talk of Thorn, 29, returning to the Broncos when his contract with the NZRU expires at the end of the season.
Thorn played seven seasons for the Broncos in the National Rugby League before converting to rugby union at the end of 2000.
Henry said Thorn's omission from the squad for the first three Tests of the year against England and Argentina later this month was based on the selectors' wish to favour specialist lineout forwards.
"Obviously we'd like him to stay in rugby," Henry told AAP.
"Our job is to pick the best team, we think we've done that."
Henry said he had a lot of respect for Thorn.
"I think he'll further develop as a rugby player and may well come into the equation in the future. But he's an individual and has to make individual decisions.
"I don't think you can take that into your thinking when you're selecting the side."
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen said Thorn "still probably isn't as natural a rugby player as we'd all like him to be".
"But he's a great athlete and over the next six to 12 months he's just got to continue to work on that," Hansen said.
"Being the true professional that he is, I think we'll see him one day come back here but just at this point we feel the other three (specialist locks Chris Jack, Simon Maling and Keith Robinson) are better."
Moller said the NZRU hoped it could keep Thorn but at the end of the day it was a decision for the player.
"We've got another two squads to name this year. There's absolutely no reason why he can't force his way back into the team.
"He's a great player, he's a great athlete and he could well have his day again."
you think any chances he will even come back to league
i think if he returns he will join the broncs.
what do you think. :?:
well here it is.
A RETURN to rugby league and the Brisbane Broncos could be on the cards for Brad Thorn after the Crusaders lock was dropped from the All Blacks rugby union squad.
The former Kangaroo rugby league international has been weighing up his playing future and the decision to leave him out of new coach Graham Henry's 26-man New Zealand squad named today could well be the deciding factor.
"It was difficult to get the news and I'm disappointed," Thorn said in a brief statement released by the Crusaders.
"My plans now are just to take some time out and be with my wife and son and then go from there."
Henry and New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief executive Chris Moller said they hoped Thorn would stay with the game.
There has already been talk of Thorn, 29, returning to the Broncos when his contract with the NZRU expires at the end of the season.
Thorn played seven seasons for the Broncos in the National Rugby League before converting to rugby union at the end of 2000.
Henry said Thorn's omission from the squad for the first three Tests of the year against England and Argentina later this month was based on the selectors' wish to favour specialist lineout forwards.
"Obviously we'd like him to stay in rugby," Henry told AAP.
"Our job is to pick the best team, we think we've done that."
Henry said he had a lot of respect for Thorn.
"I think he'll further develop as a rugby player and may well come into the equation in the future. But he's an individual and has to make individual decisions.
"I don't think you can take that into your thinking when you're selecting the side."
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen said Thorn "still probably isn't as natural a rugby player as we'd all like him to be".
"But he's a great athlete and over the next six to 12 months he's just got to continue to work on that," Hansen said.
"Being the true professional that he is, I think we'll see him one day come back here but just at this point we feel the other three (specialist locks Chris Jack, Simon Maling and Keith Robinson) are better."
Moller said the NZRU hoped it could keep Thorn but at the end of the day it was a decision for the player.
"We've got another two squads to name this year. There's absolutely no reason why he can't force his way back into the team.
"He's a great player, he's a great athlete and he could well have his day again."
you think any chances he will even come back to league
i think if he returns he will join the broncs.
what do you think. :?:
:?:
