Twenty-four hours after being included in Eddie Jones’ Wallabies training camp, Suliasi Vunivalu is set to be dropped from the Queensland Reds’ side to take on the Brumbies on Saturday.
Nor is he expected to be the only big name to be dropped, with Lawson Creighton training at fly-half and primed to be selected ahead of James O’Connor.
While The Roar last month first reported that Vunivalu is set to re-sign on a new two-year deal, his underwhelming showing against the Crusaders, which continued his sleepy start to 2023, appears to have forced Brad Thorn’s hand.
Sources have told The Roar that the former NRL flyer didn’t train with the matchday squad on Monday and is set to miss selection against the Brumbies.
Vunivalu struggled to get into the game against the Crusaders and was slow to turn when in the front line and was beaten to a kick by second-row teammate Ryan Smith.
Suliasi Vunivalu looks set to be dropped by Brad Thorn. Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
That moment appears to have broken Brad Thorn’s patience, with the under-pressure Reds coach set to drop the cross-code star who has struggled to stay on the field and make an impression on it since winning his second premiership with the Melbourne Storm in 2020.
It comes after Jones said he was hoping to “prod” Vunivalu to bring out the best in the hulking winger, who was lured over by former Rugby Australia director of rugby Scott Johnson.
“Contradiction is a big part of selection. You’re always trying to find players you feel can be world class. That’s the ultimate task is to find players who can be world-class,” Jones told reporters on Sunday.
“And I’ve seen Vulivalu play for Melbourne Storm. I’ve seen him play in NRL. I’ve seen bits and pieces of his play for Australia A and bits and pieces of what he’s done for Queensland. There’s a lot of gaps in his game at the moment, but our job as coaches is to help him fill the gaps. So if you’ve got a cattle prod at training get it out, it might help him.”
James O’Connor is likely to come off the bench against the Brumbies. Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Vunivalu isn’t the only player expected to be dropped for their crunch match against the Brumbies, with O’Connor likely to be dropped to the bench.
Thorn appears to have come down hard on O’Connor for not showing the accuracy to lead the Reds to victory.
The 32-year-old failed to find touch early from a penalty and after losing the goal-kicking duties to Isaac Henry bizarrely was asked to land a late shot at goals.
Nonetheless, it’s a curious decision in what shapes as a crucial match for Thorn’s Reds, who have gone backward since taking out the 2021 Super Rugby AU competition.
Reds coach Brad Thorn is likely to step away from the head coaching job following the 2023 Super Rugby season. Photo: Jono Searle/Getty Images
The dual international, who is arguably the greatest cross-code convert, entered the year weighing up his future, but after a slow start, which hasn’t been helped by an injury crisis in the tight-five, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Thorn won’t coach the Reds next year.
Mick Heenan, who was brought in this year after years of success in club rugby and nurturing players through to the Reds, has been earmarked as Thorn’s successor ever since being announced as an assistant coach this year.
The Queensland Rugby Union widely respects Thorn and for helping the franchise get back on track after stumbling in the post-Ewen McKenzie years.
But a decision will need to be made imminently to help their retention and recruitment drive over the next 12 months, having lost a number of crucial pieces of the puzzle in recent years including Taniela Tupou.
The Reds are hoping to keep Thorn in their coaching system.
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