On Friday night he looked a beaten man, but when asked if he expected to remain in the job for the back half of the season, he replied: “I’m not a quitter.”

“Who knows in coaching,” he said. “I’m not a quitter; I’ll continue to put my heart in and that other stuff’s out of my hands.”

The Reds started sharply and led 14-7 when halfback Tate McDermott ran 55 metres and beat five men to score a terrific solo try.

But again indiscipline haunted them, with Angus Blyth red-carded in the eighth minute for a high shot on Corey Toole that could lead to him being suspended for the rest of the regular season.

More penalties piggy-backed the Brumbies forward and a late try while down a man themselves – after Tom Wright was yellow carded for a professional foul on a rampaging Jordan Petaia – gave the visitors a surprise halftime lead.

They scored five tries in a one-sided second half as the wheels fell off for the hosts in their first loss to an Australian side at Suncorp Stadium in 15 matches.

Brumbies five-eighth Noah Lolesio – like McDermott overlooked for Eddie Jones’ first Wallabies squad – controlled the game superbly and kicked all seven attempts in his own statement performance.

The hoodoo-busting win improved the Brumbies to 6-1 and second place on the live Super Rugby Pacific ladder.

Coach Stephen Larkham stuck up for the Reds, echoing Thorn’s contention the side was better than their current standing.

“It’s a tough one isn’t it? Small margins really,” Larkham said of a Reds side who have suffered narrow losses to the Rebels and Crusaders in recent weeks.

“I don’t think they deserve to be where they are on the table.

“Tonight it was only at the 70, 75th minute mark that we felt comfortable.”

Larhkham said if he were Thorn, he would “like to know that the people around you are supporting you”.