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In a new Face-to-Face interview with Yvonne Sampson that airs on Tuesday, the Brisbane Broncos legend-turned New Zealand All Black recalls an encounter with Bennett at the age of 13 \u2013 at a time when he was considering a switch to Australian Rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a 13-year-old I actually gave up rugby league to pursue AFL,\u201d Thorn remembers. \u201cAnyway, my league team \u2013 one of the kids there won this thing where you get to go train at the Broncos for a weekend. So I went along and that was my first meeting with Wayne.<\/p>\n
\u201cWayne talked to me, because I was six foot tall and I could kick. He got me to show the group this kicking exercise. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe said \u2018Brad, I just want you to run towards me and chip over me\u2019. I\u2019d try to chip over him and catch it and after it he goes \u2018how\u2019s your footy going son?\u2019. I actually said \u2018I\u2019m going to play Australian Rules, I\u2019m going to pursue it\u2019. He goes \u2018I think you should come back to league mate\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett embraces Brad Thorn after the Broncos defeated Canterbury in the 1998 NRL Grand Final.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
Bennett would go onto sign Thorn as a full-time Bronco a few years later. He debuted for the club at the age of 19, winning premierships, and later, Origin series and much more.<\/p>\n
Thorn spent his early years in New Zealand in \u2018humble beginnings\u2019 before moving to Australia for better opportunities.<\/p>\n
He took to rugby league a little slower than other kids his age, recalling that the skill was definitely there but the work ethic was not. Thorn paid tribute to his late father, Lindsay Thorn, for inspiring him to really make something of himself as a player and leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I went through the teenage years, I played rugby league and I had ability and I had talent but it was getting to a time where kids start to push through. When they take things seriously. I wasn\u2019t pushing through,\u201d Thorn said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had the potential to do that, I wasn\u2019t fit enough and I wasn\u2019t making the rep teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d just driven all the way to the Gold Coast where a game was. Silent trip home. Got home in the kitchen and Dad fronted me and just said point blank: \u2018you don\u2019t have it, you\u2019re not fit enough, I\u2019ve had enough\u2019.<\/p>\n