Foran adamant age and experience no issue as new coach
Scott Bailey |
Kieran Foran says he won’t be afraid to have hard conversations with former teammates as he prepares to complete the fastest shift from NRL player to head coach this century.
Less than six months after playing his last NRL game, Foran will on Thursday coach Manly for the first time after last Friday’s dramatic axing of Anthony Seiboid.
Foran would not speculate on Wednesday if he had eyes on the top job beyond his interim role this year, with former teammate Matt Ballin and his ex-coach Brad Arthur the early frontrunners.
Nine of Foran’s former Sea Eagles teammates remain at Manly from his last year there in 2022, an issue several young coaches have struggled with over time.
But the former five-eighth was adamant that would not be a problem, pledging to deliver a Manly side built on effort after three straight losses to start 2026.
“I never shied away from tough conversations as a player and it certainly doesn’t bother me as a coach,” Foran said.
“That’s part of my nature, I’m as honest as it comes. I was like that as a player.
“I had no problem telling my teammates if they weren’t doing a good enough job, and I don’t have a problem doing it now.”
Foran’s appointment marks the shortest rise to head coaching of anyone since Craig Young at St George in 1979.
At age 35 he is among the youngest to take charge of an NRL side, but his unlikely ascension is befitting of one of the game’s greatest ever survivors.
Foran’s playing career looked over numerous times, only for the Kiwi to spend years defying a horror run of injuries, personal issues and fears of medical retirement.
Instead, he went out on his own terms last year, finishing with a Pacific Cup win for New Zealand in his 351st professional match before starting as Manly assistant the next morning.
“There’s been nothing normal about my playing career,” Foran said.
“I’ve been thrown in the deep end a few times and I’ve attacked it, that’s what I’ve done, so it is no different this time around.
“Age is just a number. If you look at my journey, was I too young to captain the Kiwis at 22?
“It doesn’t matter what I do. I want to do it to the best of my ability and this will be no different.”
Foran has only made one forced change for Thursday night’s clash with the Dolphins, and insists his job is not to rip up Manly’s squad.
He has also vowed to be patient and allow young half Joey Walsh time to develop in NSW Cup, while confirming there is a push to help usher in Manly’s next era.
Foran said he had heard from long-time coach Des Hasler, who reached out this week to offer support despite his own turbulent exit from the Sea Eagles.
Like Hasler, Foran views himself as a career coach, and is ready to cop the pressure and scrutiny that comes with it.
“I know it’s coming,” Foran said.
“There’s been heaps of criticism throughout my career … It fuels me. I love it.
“It’s who I am. I love it. I’m headstrong enough to know where I want to get to and the path that I want to take, and I just go full steam ahead.”
AAP