Foran ‘not ready to roll over’ at Manly

Scott Bailey | February 27, 2022

Kieran Foran has declared he wants to extend his career at Manly, just 12 months after privately being content with the idea he may have signed his last NRL contract.

Foran will begin his 14th year in the NRL with more confidence in his body in almost a decade, feeling as if he has gone full circle in his fitness.

Thought by most to be on his last legs when unwanted by Canterbury at the end of 2020, Foran’s lifeline came in the form of a one-year deal at the Sea Eagles before an option was taken up for a second.

He responded by playing 25 matches, his most in eight years, and looking increasingly like his old self as Manly made the preliminary finals.

And the five-eighth is now certain he can play beyond 2022.

“If you’d said to me 12 months ago if I got through this two years with Manly, ‘would I be content?’, I would have said ‘bloody oath’,” Foran admitted.

“But now I want more.

“It’s just where I am feeling physically and mentally. I feel like I have learned how to look after myself

“I don’t have an endpoint at this stage. I don’t want to put a time period on it.

“It comes down to what I can do on the footy field … Hopefully, there are a few more years to come.”

“I am 31, I will be 32 midway through this year. But I’m not ready to roll over yet.”

The secret to Foran’s fitness is the opposite to most his side of 30. 

After five years of battling almost every injury imaginable, more is now better in terms of training loads.

“Through all those tough years I was able to search for answers,” Foran said.

“The more I do, the better I actually feel, rather than the less I do. 

“That’s been the biggest change – just trying to do something every day. 

“Whether it is functional strength work or running or just doing something else, it held me in good stead last year.”

Foran is yet to open talks with Manly, and is well aware he must prove he is worth a new deal.

But it seems almost certain the Kiwi will end his career at Brookvale.

He has made no secret of the fact he believes he plays his best football under Des Hasler, and would be extremely unlikely to leave him.

Likewise, Manly are unlikely to be willing to lose him twice, after he got away at the end of the 2015.

Any new deal would likely come within months of an extension for halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans, who is keen to extend his contract past 2023 this year.

“It would be unlikely I want to leave this club and head somewhere else,” Foran said.

“If they want me here, I will be here. Put it that way. 

“I love this club, I love playing under Dessie. I love playing with the guys in this footy side … It’s a no-brainer.”