Thorn: Booze ban saved my career

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Recalled All Black Brad Thorn has spoken of his self-imposed booze ban, saying it was something he had to implement if he was to excel in the sporting arena.

Thorn brought in the ban seven years ago while playing for the Brisbane Broncos in rugby league's NRL.

During that time he has steadfastly refrained from drinking, although it was a policy he shelved temporarily on Saturday night to taste a handful of celebratory beers with his Rebel Sport Super 14-winning Crusaders team-mates on Saturday night.

Thorn is now set to don the All Black jersey for the first time since the 2003 World Cup campaign, with his latest selection coming after ending another successful stint in league at the end of the 2007 NRL.

Already he has 12 All Black caps to his name, plus numerous appearances for the Kangaroos and Queensland league sides.

And he said that wouldn't have been possible had he not knocked the booze on the head.

"Not drinking alcohol has been a big thing for me in the last seven or eight years," Thorn said.

"It has been massive.

"I just didn't have a good handle on (alcohol), like a lot of young men. I just knew that it was something I needed to get sorted in my life.

"I decided to just can it, it was one of the best decisions I have made."

He said of the post Super 14 final celebrations: "I actually did have a beer with the guys last night.

"I had two or three and it was just because there were a few guys there (going) and it was a really special moment.

"Everyone always wants me to have a beer with them. I just thought I would have one or two with them, but that is it."

On the bottle after losing his bottle

Celebratory beers were the last thing on his mind, and those of countless Crusaders' fans, when Thorn was sin-binned during the second half of their Super 14 final triumph over the Waratahs.

Thorn was spotted by an assistant referee lashing out with his fist on a Waratah, retribution for a late shot unleashed on the code-swapper.

Ref Mark Lawrence missed the blow, allowing play to go on as Wyatt Crockett went on to score a try.

But the five-pointer was declined on the assistant referee's report.

"I felt like I got hit late once the ball (had gone) in the rib cage and just had a moment and gave him a bit of a whack," Thorn recalled.

"He had headgear on though.

"But in big games these days, you can't do that."

He trudged off for a 10-minute stint on the sideline privately fuming about his lack of discipline.

It was an unexpected action from someone whose team-mates had spoken all week in the lead up to the final about his immense discipline.

"I just wanted to get off the paddock," he said.

"I was disappointed, but I didn't want to look like I was disappointed. I just wanted to get off the field.

"Basically I just sat there for 10 minutes thinking, 'What the heck am I doing here?'. In big matches, it is all about discipline and focus.

"That is just not my style. It seemed a bit surreal."

His mood was heartened though by the outstanding defensive effort his remaining 14 team-mates were displaying.

That was further lifted when he eventually got back on the field knowing the Waratahs had been unable to hurt the Crusaders on the scoreboard in his absence.

Impressing those that matter

Thorn's naming on Sunday morning was widely expected following his outstanding Super 14 campaign with the Crusaders.

But rewind the clock back to July 2007, and the last thing that footy fans would have expected was that Thorn would again be gracing rugby fields in New Zealand and beyond.

At the time he was midway through his farewell year in the NRL, with a career-ending stint in the UK Super League seemingly awaiting.

His signing with the Crusaders surprised many, including All Black coach Graham Henry.

"I quite frankly wondered why he was coming back. And I have told Brad this myself," Henry said.

"I wondered what he was doing coming back to rugby. (But) I know why he was coming back to rugby now, he has been superb.

"He has complimented the other lock (Ali Williams) superbly, he is a good defender, carries the ball well.

"And I think he creates a character in a side and an attitude in a team. And just talking to the Crusaders boys, they have a huge amount of respect for him as a person."

Thorn said initially he never intended returning to the 15-man code.

But with contract negotiations not going smoothly in England, a code switch seemed the best option.

"I knew I didn't want to play in Australia against the Broncos. I had 10 years there and that was put to bed," Thorn said.

"Then I was looking at league and a few things didn't work with the contracts over there (England). I looked back here and there were two Super 12 (finals) that I lost and it has always niggled me.

"There was also a chance at having a crack at playing 50 games for Canterbury and then there is the ultimate dream of maybe, things going well, getting to this level again.

"I thought I would give it a go."

Back in black after almost five years

Thorn returned to the NRL after being omitted from the All Blacks for the 2004 test season.

His deserved recall to the All Blacks on Sunday is the third time he has headlined a team naming.

In 2001 he was named by then head coach John Mitchell for the season-ending tour of the UK and Argentina.

But he pulled out, stating he was unsure what direction he wanted his professional football career to go in.

It was a move which saw him take 12 months of elite sport, returning to New Zealand in 2003 and winning All Black selection again.

He had no hesitation in accepting his latest call-up to the men in black.

"It is bonus stuff, it is about enjoyment now for me," he said.

"When you are younger you have these goals and these dreams and you are really focused. I still have goals and are still driven, but there is a real enjoyment factor, just appreciating each opportunity and time.

"I am just loving it.

"I am not going to change that with these games coming up, I am just going to enjoy each day and try and enjoy what games I get."

With that in mind, Thorn says retirement is the last thing in his sights.

Last month he signed an extended contract with the NZRU through to the end of 2009.

And he said he would continue playing professional rugby until his hefty desire waned.

"Last year, it was my farewell at the Broncos, and some people were saying 'happy retirement'," Thorne said.

"But if I retired now, it would just be for the sake of retiring. I still have the passion, I still love it, I still love footy.

"I have been unbelievably lucky with injury, it has been crazy, so my body is in good nick. And it is a good way of making a living.

"When I feel like it is time to call it a day, then I will definitely think about that."