Head coach Brad Thorn to leave Queensland Reds at end of season

Queensland Reds head coach Brad Thorn has confirmed that he will be stepping down from the role at the end of the ongoing 2023 season.

He entered the club as academy coach and led Queensland Country to the National Rugby Championship title in 2017. Known for his bold decision making skill, the dual code international helped the club overhaul after releasing Quade Cooper, Karmichael Hunt and James Slipper.

The 48-year-old guided Reds to a Super Rugby AU title in 2021 but the club endured a tough ongoing season where they have just three wins from eight matches and are at sixth position in the table.

"The past six seasons have been equally enjoyable as they've been challenging, but I'm fortunate for the opportunity and hope I when I do leave here, the program and culture is in better shape to when I started the job in 2018," Thorn said in a statement.

"The job's not finished. We've got six games left and then finals - and we've got a plan to get there."

Despite the struggle this year, the club chief executive David Hanham said they are confident Thorn will see through the ongoing campaign.

"Upon his appointment as head coach in 2018 he had to make some tough decisions - unpopular decisions, but they were for the betterment of the whole organisation," he said.

"Built on care, humility and hard work, he changed the culture at Ballymore.

"Brad will continue and ... his fellow coaching staff and playing group are all equally committed with the goal of playing finals for a fourth-straight year."