Nathan Cayless says the Warriors will be perfect for Kieran Foran

Nathan Cayless believes Stephen Kearney is the man to help Kieran Foran get his life and football career back on track at the Warriors next season.

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES — MARCH 28: Kieran Foran of the Eels looks on during the round four NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium on March 28, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

WHEN it comes to understanding the influence of Stephen Kearney, it’s hard to go past Nathan Cayless.

Cayless built an unbreakable bond with Kearney as captain and coach of New Zealand’s World Cup winning team in 2008.

The retired Parramatta prop knows what the legendary Kiwi is capable of as a mentor and person.

It’s why Cayless believes Kearney is the man to help troubled ex-Eel Kieran Foran get his life and football career back on track at the Warriors next season.

“I think Stephen would be good for Kieran,” Cayless told The Saturday Telegraph.

“They’ve got a good relationship that worked well in the Kiwi side.

“It’s unfortunate what happened with Kieran at Parramatta, but that’s just the way things go.

Kearney has coached Foran in the New Zealand side.

“I think it will be just good for Kieran and his mental wellbeing to get out there and play footy.

“It’s something that he has grown up doing and really as a professional sportsperson you go into the big show straight out of school and you haven’t done too much else.

“I think that will be the best thing for Kieran and hopefully the NRL can make sure that happens.”

Foran, though, is yet to decide his future for next season.

The star Kiwi has been strongly linked to the Warriors under Kearney, but Canterbury have come in with a late offer for his services this week.

Foran’s former Manly coach Des Hasler is keen to lure him to Belmore to help revitalise the battling Bulldogs.

Hasler can also provide the playmaker with the well-known siege mentality made famous at the Sea Eagles.

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It’s understood Foran is keen to join an environment like this to escape the constant media spotlight he experienced at Parramatta.

The other advantage of joining the Bulldogs is it will allow him to remain close to his children in Sydney.

Despite this, Foran is strongly tipped to join the Warriors after promising CEO Jim Doyle he’d sign with the club.

Cayless has no doubts the Auckland-born five-eighth will thrive under Kearney’s straightforward leadership style.

“Stephen is very quick to make sure that players don’t mistake his caring nature for a weakness,” he said.

“He has the utmost care for his players, but as soon a player looks to take advantage of that he’ll crack down.

Could Foran strike up his combination with Johnson at club level.

“The main thing for me is that you didn’t want to let Steve down.

“He wasn’t the sort of coach that would go and rant and rave and give everyone a spray.

“You could just see in his eyes — he would give you a bit of a look if he wasn’t happy with what you’d done on the field or at training.

“He didn’t really have to say too much. He has got a bit of a way about him, an aura about him in regards to what he expects from players and how he gets his message across.

“Steve doesn’t waste his words.”

Cayless says Kearney’s approach is exactly what the struggling Warriors need to improve and progress.

“Steve has had a really good relationship with all those boys in the Kiwi team and I think that’s important,” he said.

“Obviously being of Polynesian heritage as well, he has a bit more of an understanding of the cultural differences.

“I think the Warriors will really benefit from that next season.”

Originally published as Nathan Cayless says the Warriors will be perfect for Kieran Foran