Kieran Foran set to rejoin Manly Sea Eagles after Canterbury Bulldogs departure
Five years after walking out on the Sea Eagles, Kieran Foran could be just days away from sealing a dramatic move back to Manly as the club reforms the core of its last premiership side.
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Manly is on track to reform the nucleus of the team that led the Sea Eagles to their last premiership with Kieran Foran a strong chance of linking up with former coach Des Hasler and halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans.
Friends close to Foran say negotiations between Manly and the Canterbury star are progressing quickly. Newcastle is still in the equation but the Knights’ interest isn’t as intense as that emanating from Brookvale.
No deal has been struck and there are still obstacles to navigate but Manly and the former club favourite are quietly hopeful a deal can be sealed by Friday. The Daily Telegraph has been told Manly officials met Foran’s manager, Sam Ayoub, on Tuesday afternoon.
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Foran, 30, comes off contract at Belmore this year and rejected an offer to re-sign. The Bulldogs are undergoing a massive player clean-out ahead of incoming coach Trent Barrett’s arrival for the 2021 season.
There is little doubt Foran played his best football when under coach Des Hasler at Brookvale between 2009 and 2015. He played 147 games with the Sea Eagles.
Foran and Cherry-Evans played a key role in the Sea Eagles’ grand final win over New Zealand Warriors in 2011. Manly players want Foran to return.
Should Foran rejoin Manly, Hasler would then consider shifting Dylan Walker back to his preferred centre position. A backline containing Foran, Cherry-Evans, Walker and Tom Trbojevic would offer plenty of strike for 2021.
It is unclear whether the money saved from departing prop Addin Fonua-Blake, who will join the New Zealand Warriors on a three-year-deal, would be used to try to sign Foran.
Manly has further room in their salary cap through the departure of back-rower Joel Thompson to Super League club St Helens.
Despite having endured what seems like five years of constant injury battles, Foran was without doubt Canterbury’s best player this year.
Some at Manly believe Foran would be the ideal on-field mentor for rising star Josh Schuster, who made his NRL debut earlier this month.
Foran has played with Parramatta, Warriors and Canterbury since leaving Manly. He also struggled with personal issues.
Earlier this week, former NSW and Sharks captain Paul Gallen encouraged Foran’s return to Sydney’s northern beaches.
“He’d be good at any club. I love him, I love the way he plays, but his poor body, he must be sore,” Gallen told Nine. “He‘s an experienced half that’s played international football, won premierships, it would be a no-brainer to have him there. It just comes down to the dollars unfortunately and how much he can play.”
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Originally published as Kieran Foran set to rejoin Manly Sea Eagles after Canterbury Bulldogs departure