NRL 2024: Kieran Foran reflects on the highs and lows of his journey to 300 NRL games

Before he plays his 300th NRL game this weekend, Kieran Foran has opened up on his ‘rollercoaster’ career and why the Titans hold a special place in his heart.

COFFS HARBOUR, AUSTRALIA - JULY 05: Kieran Foran of the Titans celebrates his team's victory during the round 18 NRL match between Cronulla Sharks and Gold Coast Titans at Coffs Harbour International Stadium, on July 05, 2024, in Coffs Harbour, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Kieran Foran is set to finish his NRL career in Australia’s theme park capital and it’s fitting considering his rugby league journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster.

In fact, ‘rollercoaster’ is the term that Foran settled on when asked to describe his career in one word.

The Titans playmaker was just 21 when he won an NRL premiership in 2011. Five years later, he had walked away from the game entirely.

“It’s been a journey of ups and downs and one of resilience and persistence,” Foran said.

“I’ve been extremely proud that I’ve stayed in it.”

Kieran Foran at CBUS Super ahead of his 300th game. Picture: Gold Coast Titans.

When Foran leads the Titans out against the Dragons on Sunday afternoon he will become the first player to reach the coveted 300-game milestone in a Gold Coast jersey.

The Titans may be the fifth club Foran has played at, but they already hold a special place in his heart.

“It’s hugely special, isn’t it?” he said.

“It’s such a great club and to be the first player that has reached 300 wearing that jersey is something that’s going to stay with me forever, there’s no doubt about that.

“This club’s been great to me and I’m grateful for the opportunity to come up here, they’ve been hugely supportive to myself and my family.”

Kieran Foran of the Titans in action this season. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

“I’m just invested now long-term, I’ve seen how special this roster is and I’m driven by wanting to be a part of the first premiership here.

“I want to help the club have sustained success for many years to come, it’s a great club and holds a special place in my heart.”

Regardless of whether another premiership is on the horizon for Foran, merely reaching the 300-game mark is an incredible achievement given the gritty playmaker walked away from the game entirely in 2016.

The then 26-year-old sensationally quit the NRL and the Parramatta Eels in his first season with the club as he battled personal issues. He would make his return with the New Zealand Warriors in 2017.

“I had to do some work on myself individually as a human being and as a man and deal with certain things in my life that I hadn’t dealt with, and I had to work extremely hard to rediscover the sort of footy that I knew that I was capable of and that was a challenge in itself,” he said.

Kieran Foran of the Titans smiles after a Titans win. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images.

“I faced plenty of injuries in those coming years and wasn’t sure that I’d get back to where I’d get back to.

“I had this internal belief that I could get there, it was just going to take time and a heck of a lot of hard work, I was grateful that I stayed in it.”

He described the 2016 version of himself as an “entirely different human being”.

“He’s an entirely different … man and player altogether.

“There’s been a lot of growth over that time since then, it’s been really cool and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to do it.

“I love that I’m able to sit here today and be proud of the career that I’ve had and the person that I am.

“Rugby league’s given me so much, it’s given me and my family a really good life, I’ve been able to live out my dream and what I wanted since I was a young boy.

“It’s not over yet, there’s hopefully still some boxes to tick and some good things to come, this week’s been a week of reflection for sure.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Kieran Foran reflects on the highs and lows of his journey to 300 NRL games