This Brad Thorn story of family and the bond of rugby is the reason why he has meshed such a close-knit Queensland Reds side.
It deserves a telling because Thorn is back in Dunedin and closest to where his own rugby story began as a kid born in nearby Mosgiel on the Taieri Plains.
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When Thorn was assistant coach to Nick Stiles in 2017, the Reds headed to Dunedin and copped a tough 40-17 loss.
Thorn packed some footy boots in his luggage as he always has, even into his 40s. With no fanfare, Thorn stayed on and laced them up for Taieri one last time.
It was Premier Two level in Otago club rugby for the 2011 World Cup-winner. Even at 42, Thorn charged into rucks and mauls and found himself saying “sorry” when the cleanouts had a bit too much thunder for the recipients.
The grassroots day had far deeper significance.
Thorn was playing as a final nod to uncle Robin Gamble, something of a legend around those parts as a player and coach at Taieri.
“My father Lindsay played at Taieri and so did my older brother Aaron and other relatives,” Thorn said.
“Because of the family connection, it had special meaning for me to be a player at the club for the first time in 2013 when Robin presented me with my jersey before the game.
“Dad, Aaron and Robin have their photos up on the wall in the clubhouse and one of my old All Blacks’ jerseys hangs over the bar.
“That’s pretty cool to tell you how rugby and family blend together.
“I wanted to play again for my uncle. Robin was house-bound with illness pretty much but we got him to that game in 2017 and he came to the club afterwards.”
Ten months later, Gamble was gone at 72 but Thorn had given the long-time stock agent a final, heartfelt rugby treat.
That’s the admirable substance to Thorn that has made possible the Reds’ rise from easybeats to trophy-winners.
The Queensland Rugby Union know it too and Thorn will be offered a new deal beyond 2021.
Thorn is often non-committal about his future plans but there are clearly going to be productive conversations in the weeks ahead.
“A lot has been put in by a lot of people to get the club into a good space,” Thorn said.
“Obviously, I’d like to continue to be involved here. There's a lot more to do.”
The “more to do” part starts with making a bang in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman which kicks off when the Reds tackle the Highlanders under the roof at Dunedin’s impressive Forsyth-Barr Stadium on Friday night.
You’d back the Reds to beat Aaron Smith’s Highlanders any other week of the competition.
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Too much emotion has been drained from the players who are backing up six days after the Super Rugby AU triumph.
That’s before you count losing influential No.8 Harry Wilson (concussion) and line-busting winger Jordie Petaia (thigh strain). With no Hunter Paisami as well, the Reds' backs look undersized for the task of punching holes in the Highlanders' defence.
Having Liam Wright in the starting backrow and getting sharp winger Suliasi Vunivalu back into action off the bench are big plusses for this game.
Still, you have to think the Reds have a better chance of beating the champion Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium on May 22 than they have of winning on Friday night. They’ll still be in there fighting all the way.
For that, Australian rugby can thank Thorn for showing that digging in for rugby mates you think of as family is not so old-fashioned after all.
