KEY POINTS:
Brad Thorn is such an athlete, such a competitor and in such good shape, you wonder whether he could last until the next World Cup in New Zealand.
To contemplate that about any other tight forward who has already blown out 33 candles on the birthday cake would seem preposterous but something about Thorn says he might challenge that concept.
He is in great shape, he is not concerned about making his way in his career. He has already achieved more than that with a dual career in league and union, stints with the Broncos, Kangaroos, Canterbury, the Crusaders and All Blacks.
He does not have to play on to prove his pedigree but he is loving this chance, he trains harder than most, he is in a contented mental zone and his game suits the new ELVs. He is quite open about returning to live in Brisbane where his extended family live, once his playing days are over.
He does not skirt round those issues but is thrilled to have got another chance in rugby with the All Blacks and is determined to continue until his massive frame declares enough. Thorn will want to leave rugby while he can still compete with the best, he is not someone who will want to linger when his zip and hunger has slipped just to pick up another pay cheque.
It is that professional attitude as much as anything which may eliminate him from a second World Cup appearance in 2011.
Those thoughts are in the distance though as Thorn contemplates a second All Blacks test at Suncorp after he was part of the side which walloped Tonga 91-7 at the same venue in the 2003 World Cup.
He returned this season to the All Blacks after winning a Super 14 title with the Crusaders which meant he became the only man to win titles in that series and the NRL.
"This is crazy," Thorn said candidly ahead of tonight's test.
"I had a dad that always inspired me to have big dreams but this is just ridiculous now.
"At 33 years of age, even I couldn't have dreamed of this; just to come over here and have this opportunity. This is a game I was fairly excited about a fair while back. And there's a lot riding on it so it makes it even better."
During his stellar cross-code club careers, Thorn was influenced heavily by Wayne Bennett at the Broncos then Robbie Deans with the Crusaders, men who shaped his sporting career and inspired him in his personal life as he ditched the drink and embraced a more christian philosophy.
Don't mistake his life change for any sporting concessions though. He remains rock-tough and unerring in quest of success.
"The thing I liked about Robbie and the thing I liked about Wayne Bennett is they hate losing, they love winning which is probably similar to me," he said.
The Wallabies' massive 53-8 last defeat would have seared Deans, embarrassed him too but would have provoked him like nothing else to rectify that result tonight.
"He wouldn't have enjoyed that. I've heard people say they weren't committed but the one thing I know about Robbie is he wants to win every game. Squash, tennis, whatever," Thorn said.
"It would have been a huge, big wake-up call for them and they would have copped a lot of grief so that makes them really, really dangerous so we have to make sure that we're hungry."
Thorn keeps in touch with Bennett who mentored the All Blacks in a seminar this year.
The pair still keep in touch, in much the same way he will find time to pigeonhole Deans from time to time.
But tonight is about business, trying to clinch the Tri-Nations title, no time for any sympathy for his old coach or his team.
Born in Mosgiel, Thorn was raised in Brisbane where he used to cheer for the All Blacks when they played at the old Ballymore ground, though he aspired to play the more popular league code in the Sunshine State.
He achieved honours in that code before leaving in dignity for another tilt at rugby and tonight's unlikely international return to his old patch. No wonder the big fella shakes his head when he talks about his career, it has been some journey.
