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The Agenda

"Big Bad Brad Thorn"

30 Jan 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is Brad Thorn currently doing after his rugby career?

0.976 - 25.397 Brad Thorn

the agenda podcast the home of sporting nonsense and claptrap brought to you by export ultra rare thorn welcome firstly there'll be a lot of people who are listening who would like to know what you're up to at the moment oh thanks for having me guys um yeah i'm uh i actually coach first 15 rugby in brisbane that's um for one of the elite private schools over there and

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26.17 - 37.069 Brad Thorn

It's been a tone down for me, I guess, coaching at Super Rugby level. It's been a really enjoyable couple of years, to be honest, and a few other things along with it.

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37.91 - 42.238 Jerry

What's the biggest difference with coaching the first 15? Can't swear at them, I suppose?

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42.387 - 62.82 Brad Thorn

Do you know what? It's really cool. The kids haven't learned any bad habits yet. They're at the end of 12 years of study, so they're really open to learning. You know, it's been really enjoyable. You know, I've really enjoyed it.

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63.26 - 73.761 Manaia Stewart

Has it been successful? Has the team been successful? Because I'm just looking at pretty much every team you ever played for won. So are these guys winning as well?

74.517 - 81.752 Brad Thorn

I actually got a wooden spoon in Japan. Finally, the universe.

82.092 - 82.974 Manaia Stewart

Finally, the universe.

83.014 - 93.635 Brad Thorn

I usually keep that secret. They've gone okay. We're sort of like... Mid-table, so yeah.

93.995 - 114.187 Jerry

So on the front of the book, it says, lessons learned in footy and life to build a winning mindset. There's a lot of quotes in there from other people about, you know, you're winning, as Jerry just mentioned there. I feel like some people are just born winners. Do you feel like some people are born losers as well? Like, for example, this show here, we've been struggling.

Chapter 2: What are the challenges of coaching first 15 rugby?

153.86 - 171.45 Brad Thorn

And he was two years older, and they basically kicked my butt for 15 years. So maybe for you guys, you know, as losers, you're going to learn about what it takes to win, and I see a bright future in you guys.

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172.578 - 185.254 Manaia Stewart

I want to know, like, how much of a role, you're talking about, you know, growing up with a father and a larger older brother. How much of a role did growing up in freezing, mosquil winters play in your mental and physical resilience?

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185.707 - 204.573 Brad Thorn

Yeah, big time. Yeah. But it was more, I moved to a place called Bannockburn in a town called Cromwell in central Otago. And it used to be, as we ran on the field with the fast and we were just rugged and yeah, it's a great upbringing. Yep.

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204.593 - 205.675 Jerry

It's a freezing part of the camp.

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205.695 - 216.92 Brad Thorn

Bannockburn on the rail trail? Yeah, it goes up past Alex, I think, all the way to Queenstown. Something I want to do one day when I get some time.

217.762 - 230.26 Manaia Stewart

You played professional sport until you were 41. That's quite intense because it wasn't like you were hanging out on the wing or anything. You obviously enjoyed getting smashed. Do you miss getting smashed?

231.185 - 256.797 Brad Thorn

Sometimes, you know, I walk down the street and there'll be traffic lights and people are gathering on the other side of the road. And I see a pile of them, I want to smash them. And, you know, I'm like the old soldier that has PTSD. Yeah. And then I've got to remind myself, no, Brad, just walk nicely.

256.837 - 263.324 Manaia Stewart

That's one of the funniest things I've ever heard anyone say in my life. It's so honest.

263.344 - 264.365 Jerry

He sees bowling pins.

Chapter 3: How does Brad Thorn define a winning mindset?

409.958 - 422.171 Jerry

You mentioned World Cups and State of Origins and, you know, Rugby League Championships. You've played with some of the most talented players across all the codes. Who's the most talented player you ever played with?

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424.113 - 445.925 Brad Thorn

Far out. Tough question. It's just so hard because, you know, you've got all your different positions. A talented guy, I can say, is Aaron Franks. Fuller's technique is a tight end prop, you know, or Tony Woodcock. You could say Dan Carter and you could say Darren Lockyer, Alan Langer, all these guys. It's just too much.

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448.891 - 455.203 Brad Thorn

Like you said, privileged to play with so many great talents, but more importantly, great men.

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455.707 - 474.712 Manaia Stewart

Was there ever any one of those guys, though, who was just good at everything? Because sometimes, you know, you might be playing golf with a dude. I've heard Mitchell Santa, for example, from the Blackcaps, basically is good at every single sport that he ever plays, whether it's darts or pool or golf. Was there anyone who was just kind of good at just everything?

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475.553 - 498.254 Brad Thorn

Yeah, you know, there's a lot of guys like that. And a lot of, you know, you go further back, you know, everyone was playing every sport, you know. So Alan Lang was a great cricketer. There's so many guys great at different sports. They're just athletes and they're super talented.

500.898 - 503.12 Manaia Stewart

Ever been in a fight with a teammate at practice?

506.685 - 536.724 Brad Thorn

Fights? Push and shove, you know, maybe use someone's face to get up with my knee. But I'm generally very tight with my team and protective, you know, so it was more always about my... And my biggest thing was not, and this is what Beaver used to do to me and Kahui, they knew that my weakness was I found it hard playing against people I liked and they would try and be friendly to me.

536.784 - 549.198 Brad Thorn

And again, the Chiefs versus Crusaders, we go, hey, Tony, how you going? I'm like, get away from me. Get away from me, Beaver and Richard. So that was my challenge.

549.879 - 551.02 Jerry

Trying to buddy up.

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