Reds coach and All Blacks great Brad Thorn has made an impassioned plea for a trans-Tasman rugby competition next year regardless of whether he's still in charge of Queensland.
Debate continues about the 2021 schedule following this year's decision to have separate Super Rugby competitions in Australia and New Zealandafter the impact of COVID-19.
Thorn's opinion is worth significant weight given he coaches the Reds, played for New Zealand clubs the Crusaders and the Highlanders, and won a World Cup with the All Blacks.
Throw in his decorated rugby league career with the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and the Kangaroos, and Thorn is a trans-Tasman sport icon.
"I look at two countries that have gone to war together, have a tight connection, are very close to each other and we both love our rugby," Thorn said.
"For me, you think about Queensland in the 70s, they started playing the New Zealand teams, they wanted to improve their rugby.
"We're really enjoying this national comp playing against our fellow Australian teams, but also with New Zealand rugby teams, nationally as well, obviously being very strong, we want to compete against that also.
Brad Thorn. Photo / Photosport
"The future of rugby is getting talked about, and ... we want to be in the best competition, we want to play the best.
"There's an opportunity to have a very good competition, so you hope that whatever gets done on both side is for a good result and we get a world-class competition."
It's a competition Thorn wants to be involved with as Reds coach, but his contract expires at the end of the year.
"It's not solely my decision (about his future with the Reds). You've got people who'll be making those decisions, and we've got to see where the game's going," he said.
"I think it's going in a positive way with the competition they're talking about, and you want to be part of that.
"I've enjoyed this role, this is my third year, and I wanted to serve this club as best I could, and at the minimum leave it in a better place for the next guy.
"I feel like it's in a reasonable place, but being attached to the guys and what we've done, and the build that we've done, it would be great to see it through, and see some real strength for the Queensland Reds, but also rugby in Queensland in general.
"Anyone who knows me, knows I want to achieve stuff."
And for those who don't want to part of a Reds' renaissance, they are free to leave.
"We want people who want to be in Queensland – it's as simple as that," he said about speculation that emerging fly-half Carter Gordon was joining the Rebels.
"From when I came in it was about the mateship, bringing the guys through, caring about each other, playing for each other, it was about the jersey, 140 years of history, guys setting the standard for us.
"You want people who want to die for that jersey and play for their mates.
"For me, whether it was league or union, it was very simple, That's what drove so much of what you put into it, all the extras, the work you do (and) the time you spend with the guys."
That famous Queensland spirit will be on show on Saturday night when the Reds meet the Waratahs at the SCG.
"It's a great rivalry ... Queensland and New South Wales. There's plenty of history between the two teams," said Thorn, who has named excitement machine Jordan Petaia in the Reds' starting side at the expense of the injured Chris Feauai-Sautia.
