Finding peace and purpose: Brad’s Easter story

A highly successful and highly respected dual rugby code international, with an extraordinary list of rugby league and rugby union national and international games and wins to his name, New Zealand-born Brad Thorn loves the physicality, the team connection, and the strategies of both rugby league and rugby union.

Over the past decade or so, Brad has also been a regular visitor/speaker at The Salvation Army’s GSA (God’s Sports Arena) church, Brisbane, which serves many who are struggling with addiction, homelessness, and more. This Easter, The Salvation Army’s Naomi Singlehurst asked Brad to share some of the story around his Christian faith and the hope it gives him.

In his very early 20s (then) Brisbane Bronco, Brad Thorn says he already “had it all — a massive contract, a house, cars, money, attention.”

He was ‘living the dream,’ but soon found it surprisingly empty.

While he loved his sport and the camaraderie, he says, “A lot of people think if they can just be rich and famous, then everything will be good. I went there and it was empty. There was no fulfillment, and even though I had goals, I had no real sense of purpose.”

Life altering faith commitment

Brad, who was named Broncos’ Rookie of the Year in his first year (1994), sadly lost his dad not long after his National Rugby League (NRL) career took off.

In the late ‘90s, at the age of 23, he found himself sharing a room on tour as part of the international Australia National Rugby League team, the Kangaroos, with teammate Jason Stevens — a committed Christian. 

The two talked about many things, including faith, and while Brad had been to church as a kid and had some belief, this was the time he says, “I surrendered my life to Jesus.”

His life, including his binge drinking, changed. (Although he laughs and says, “Like all of us, I’m still a work in progress today.”)

He says his decision wasn’t popular with many of his peers at the time.

“I didn’t talk about it much at all, except if someone asked me about it. I never preached or spoke about my faith in the early days; I just lived my life. But it was a pretty radical change, and people noticed. It didn’t go down well,” he says.

As Brad tells his story, it is with great humour and no sense of self-pity. He knows that while people around the world often suffer terribly for their faith, he has lived a very fortunate life. He has four “great” kids and a wife who he not only loves but describes as his “best friend”. 

However, Brad remains incredibly thankful for the support of people like the Salvos GSA founder Bill Hunter (who was the Brisbane Broncos chaplain and today remains a “lifelong friend”), as well as his new-found church community and many others.

Brad now regularly appears as a guest speaker at GSA as one of a range of his community and charity commitments.

A stellar career

In 2000, Brad was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. His sense of care for others, his integrity and honesty are today highly respected and celebrated in his football codes and the wider community.

After years of professional rugby league — including three premiership wins, 14 State of Origin games and eight international matches for Australia — Brad moved back to New Zealand and back to the game that had been his dad’s passion and the passion of his early childhood: rugby union.

Again, Brad excelled, and his many achievements include three Tri-Nations wins with the All Blacks national team, two grand slams, and a win at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

He then returned to Australia and began coaching. At the end of 2023, Brad retired as head coach of the Queensland Reds.

With a reputation as a player and coach of great dedication, integrity and determination, Brad says he is privileged to have had amazing opportunities during his stellar career.

Results of following Jesus

Brad explains that his decision more than 25 years ago to follow Jesus has had a profound and positive impact on every aspect of his life — from finding peace in hard times (including some struggles with anxiety) to making life decisions.

He says: “One really cool thing God gives people is purpose. We have a creator, who created us in his own image, so there is a plan and purpose for every person’s life.

“Without purpose, we can feel lost and try to fill that with a lot of the wrong things, just like I did,” he says. 

Talking about the importance of Easter, Brad says the price Jesus paid — crucifixion, betrayal, pain — to take the sin of the world, was, “epic and incredibly costly”. 

“Jesus paid the price we couldn’t pay.”

Celebrate Easter this year with the Salvos

Brad is encouraged by the fact that Jesus’ disciples — “normal, everyday people” — ran away in fear after Jesus was crucified, but only a few days later they courageously started telling people that Jesus had risen. 

“Something happened over that short period of time and in the end all of them, except one, died for that belief,” Brad says. 

“For me daily, not just at Easter time, I remember what Jesus has done. It helps me focus; it brings me so much joy. We talk about Jesus dying on the cross, but then he was raised. Death and sin were defeated and that’s just massive!”

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