Brad Thorn
Brad Thorn is one of those talented athletes who can switch from one code of football to another and still play for the best teams – even his country. In fact, he has played for two countries in two different football codes.
Born in New Zealand but raised in Australia, Brad broke into the big time with the Brisbane Broncos in the Australian National Rugby League at the age of 19. By 21, he was representing Queensland in State of Origin. At 22, he was playing for Australia.
His rugby league success came during the 1990s. In 2001, he achieved a boyhood ambition to return to New Zealand to play rugby union. In 2003, he reached the pinnacle of New Zealand rugby – he played for the All Blacks, the national team.
Brad represented New Zealand at the World Cup. He played 12 matches for his country that year. In 2005, he switched back to rugby league and the Broncos. But by the end of 2007, the rugby union bug had bitten again and he is now with the Crusaders in the Super 14 (Australia-NZ-South Africa) series.
His motivation to reach the top came from an ultimatium given by his father when Brad was a 16-year-old living in Brisbane. “I wasn’t really motivated as a young fellow. I had a bit of potential, but I was a bit lazy on the field. One day, Dad said to me, ‘Mate, if you want me to keep giving you lifts, I want you to do some running and fitness work’. It taught me a lot of discipline and focus.”
It also too a footballer to motivate Brad’s Christian life. Although raised in a Christian family, football, fame and fortune took his life in other directions in his late teens and early 20s.
“When I made the Australian rugby league team at 22, we toured Britain. Jason Stevens, who’s a Christian and my front row partner, really stood out from the other guys.:
“He said I should ask Jesus to forgive me for the stuff I had done and ask him to come into my life. One day, back home, I decided to give what Jason said a crack. I said a prayer, I told Jesus I was sorry for the stuff that I had done and asked him to forgive me and help me turn my life around.”
When he left the Broncos, Brad presented each of his team-mates with a Bible. “I’m not a guy who pushes my faith on people. I hope by just living my life that people notice the change in me.”
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