By Nick Wright
When I stop to consider my favourite NRL players, a few obvious ones come to mind.
Scott Prince, Darren Lockyer, Matt Bowen and Mat Rogers roll off the tongue. Ben Hunt and Tom Dearden in more recent times.
But when I think of the toughest I have seen, it’s hard to go past Kieran Foran.
Kieran Foran’s career has been defined by toughness – physically and mentally.Credit: Getty
When the Gold Coast Titans halfback plays his 300th NRL game on Sunday against the St George-Illawarra Dragons, it will be an achievement few predicted. And given the ordeals he faced, not even he envisioned it.
“There have been plenty of times over the past six or seven years I thought it was out of reach and not something I would get near,” Foran said.
“But I think at the end of the day, it’s a lesson and an example that if you persist and are prepared to work hard enough and push yourself to places you need to push yourself, you can achieve anything.
“I think I’ve managed to do that, and I’m extremely grateful that I’ve hung in the fight.”
When considering the matrix for toughness, consider Foran’s injury history.
Last year’s calf and knee problems, as well as injections in his finger, were just the tip of the iceberg. Shoulder, toe, ankle and further knee concerns all threatened to end his career.
When he returned to the Manly Sea Eagles in 2021 – the club where he debuted and achieved premiership victory – he reached the 20-game mark for the first time since 2014.
Kieran Foran will celebrate his 300th NRL game when the Titans take on the Dragons on Sunday.Credit: Titans Media
And yet Foran continues to put his body on the line in the same manner he did as a young man, a trait he said he would “certainly not want to change”.
Off the field, he has been through more adversity than most.
His struggles to embrace the high profile that came with winning a title and representing New Zealand by the age of 21 triggered his lucrative move to Parramatta, where he was tasked with ending a premiership drought dating back to 1986.
The pressure ultimately led to anguish, gambling problems and a stint in hospital after an apparent overdose on prescription medication.
Through it all, he persevered.
There are different brands of NRL toughness. Carl Webb established himself as one of the most daunting enforcers. Sam Burgess played through the pain of a broken cheekbone to inspire a drought-breaking South Sydney premiership.
But Foran’s story of resilience goes beyond his physical hardships. For the way he navigated off-field upheaval to enter the esteemed 300-game club is a testament to his strength of character.
And it’s a story he’s been sharing with the Titans’ rising stars – Keano Kini, Jayden Campbell and AJ Brimson among them – to ensure they don’t succumb to the same struggles.
“They’re a special bunch of guys, they’re continually evolving and learning at these early parts of their careers, and to have an impact on that is ... something I don’t take for granted,” Foran said.
“I’m just trying to pass on all my learnings and tough lessons so they can fast-track their growth.
“I’m really proud to have come through that stage of my career. I think there’s no hiding from the fact I’ve faced some pretty big challenges in the middle part of my career, both privately as a man, and also professionally with injuries and things like that.
“There were some really challenging times ... and to stand here now – interim captain and a leader of this club – I’m extremely proud of the man that I’ve become throughout that journey.”
Until last week’s capitulation against the Sharks, the Titans were riding high from eight wins in 12 encounters, overturning a disastrous start to coach Des Hasler’s era, in which they did not triumph until round seven.
Bit by bit, the team have adapted to the new regimen, one Foran knows well from his success with the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs.
It leaves him with one goal to attain; one final chapter to etch into his story, which convinced him to play on in 2025.
“I want to win a premiership here. It’s something that I’m driven by now, and I’m so invested by it,” Foran said.
“I know we can achieve it, and I want to be part of it. I wanted to know I could get through another year physically and mentally, but then also be playing the sort of footy that warranted to go around again.
“Once I ticked both those boxes, I thought it would be really special to continue to be part of this journey we’re on as a club. I want to be part of the first premiership here.”