Kieran Foran opens up on his return to Manly, his body, the future and a burning desire to win another NRL premiership
Nine years after they helped Manly clinch the NRL premiership Kieran Foran and Des Hasler are about to be reunited — here’s why Foran can’t wait.
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Dessie, DCE and Foz — it’s the triple threat that led Manly to the 2011 premiership.
All three have endured incredible highs and lows since those heady days, but now coach Des Hasler and his one-time young sensations Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran are together again.
Foran sees his reunion with Hasler as a “blessing” that will bring out the best in the five-eighth’s battered body.
Cherry-Evans and Foran won 64.5 per cent of their 110 games together between 2011 and 2015.
Foran played finals in his first six seasons and is hungry to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
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“I’m desperate to win a grand final,” Foran said.
Foran, 30, left Brookvale in 2016 for what turned into an often rocky ride through Parramatta, the Warriors and the Bulldogs.
He tells The Daily Telegraph how he can help take Manly back to the top.
Foran spoke to The Daily Telegraph a day before the tragic death of Keith Titmuss, when the subject matter was purely focused on the new Sea Eagle’s thoughts were about the 2021 season.
INSATIABLE DESIRE
Foran wants to make it clear – he is back at Manly to win a grand final.
“I have this desire to win. I want to win another premiership,” Foran said.
“That is burning deep inside me, the hunger to do that again.
“The desire to win a premiership is burning far greater and brighter now than what it was back then (a premiership win in 2011 with Manly) and I was desperate to win one back then,” he said.
“Now, you want to climb that mountain again because you know how good it can be. For me, I am so desperate to get back here.
“Having gone through what I have in my career, and faced the challenges that I’ve faced, to be able to reach and climb the top of the tree again would be … winning a premiership is the ultimate thing you can do in our game.
“I was very fortunate to be part of such a special team in 2011, to win it with those guys. To do it now, having gone through what I have, it would be far different.”
HE’S BACK
Foran played 147 NRL games for Manly before turning into a journeyman.
“You probably don’t realise how much you miss a joint until you’ve been gone and then you walk back through the doors again,” he said.
“Just going down there (the club’s Narrabeen’s base) a few times over the last three weeks, there are still some familiar faces there. It’s definitely made me realise how much I have to enjoy myself moving forward.
“I had some many great years here. They are some of the best memories I have throughout my footy career.
“Without dwelling too much on the past, you don’t want to live in the past, you have to look ahead, and it’s a completely new group now, but the culture and fabric of the place certainly hasn’t changed. That’s what I loved about this club when I played here and it still has the same feel.”
MAD SCIENTIST
Foran is adamant one person brought out his best – Hasler.
“It’s funny how it has worked out. I can’t believe it, I pinch myself. I have always admired Dessie so much. He has been the one coach that, for some reason, I don’t know what it is, has always brought out the best in me,” Foran said.
“My fondest years were playing under Dessie. He has moulded my game and he was the architect behind the style of footy that I play. I have such belief in the way he coaches and the standards he sets.
“You’ve got to remember, I went to Canterbury because Dessie was there. When he left, I didn’t think I’d get another opportunity, I thought I’d lost that.
“To think now, at 30, I get the chance to go back to the club where I started out and be back under the one bloke that I admire so much, I feel very blessed and fortunate. He brings out the best in me, there’s no doubt in my mind.”
CHEZ AND FOZ
Foran and Cherry-Evans were Manly’s halves in the 2011 grand final. Now they’re back together again.
He was in his third season of first grade and just 21 years old when he teamed with Cherry Evans to win the 2011 grand final over the Warriors.
Cherry-Evans was just 22 and produced a season that won him the rookie of the year honours.
“It’s been the main question I’ve been asked since signing back at Manly – how will it be being back alongside Cherry,” Foran said.
“Look, to think me and Cherry came through together and had some great success early on alongside one another, I think we really complimented each other well.
“I’m sure it will be no different 10 years on. We have both grown our games and learnt a hell of a lot albeit during different journeys.
“I think the way that we play – our style of footy – hasn’t changed dramatically so in terms of bringing out the best in each other, I’ve got no doubt we will still do that like we used to back in the day.
“And we push each other. We have always done that. Push each other on the training field and push each during games. That is what brings out the best in the guys around us.
“I’m not sure where I’m going to play. I haven’t spoken to Dessie about it, whether it’s in the six jumper, that will be up to him where I’m best suited to the side.”
CAN’T BEAT EXPERIENCE
Foran said: “I’ve got a firm belief in my mind about what I can still offer. That doesn’t waver in my head despite the setbacks. I know if I continue to work as hard as I can then I will play as good a footy as I know I can.
“If I can get there then I can provide a bit of experience around the place because it’s a pretty youthful squad.
“I know ‘Chez’ is there and a couple of other blokes that have been around a while. If I can provide experience in games and at training then hopefully I can add some value to the place.
“I’d like to help blood the next crop of guys coming through – this looks a really exciting group. The priority for me is getting my body right because of the value I can add on the field only comes when I’m playing.
“That will be the crucial part – making sure I’m out there each and every week playing as good a footy as I know I can play.”
INJURY WOES
Foran did not suffer any major injuries during his time at Manly.
Since then he has battled a raft of issues including major shoulder and ankle injuries that have kept his game totals over the past five seasons to nine, 17, 12, 14 and 13.
His Bulldogs career ended with a torn right pec in September.
“I feel great. I always say that, I’m always optimistic about my body despite having a ton of injuries to deal with over the last three to four years,” Foran said.
“I firmly believe my body still has plenty left in it and that is what continues to drive me because I know I will put in the work and eventually I’ve got to come out of this injury hole and surely string some consistent games together.
“Personally, I feel really positive about my body and I feel like I will be able to get a ton of work in before the season and prepare myself as best as I can. Touch wood, I can get a bit of luck on the injury side.”
THE FUTURE
It seems like Foran has been around forever, partly because he debuted for Manly at just 18 years old way back in 2009.
But he is still only 30 and has up to four years left if injury free.
“Everyone always thinks I’m a lot older than what I am because of the amount of footy I played early on in my career. I didn’t miss many games and played finals every year,” Foran said.
“I crammed a lot of footy into that first six or seven if my career. To be the public eye, they probably think I’m a lot older than what I am.”
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Originally published as Kieran Foran opens up on his return to Manly, his body, the future and a burning desire to win another NRL premiership
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