Kieran Foran tells Sea Eagles teammates he has signed with Parramatta Eels for 2016

KIERAN Foran has admitted he was “tossing and turning” over the decision to quit Manly and join Parramatta, adding that the departure of another player contributed to the call he made this morning.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 06: Kieran Foran of the Sea Eagles leaves the field during the round one NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Manly Sea Eagles at Pirtek Stadium on March 6, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images)

KIERAN Foran hadn’t decided he was leaving Manly for Parramatta until this morning, admitting he was “tossing and turning” on the decision.

The Kiwi five-eighth told this evening’s Channel 9 news bulletin that until 9am “it could have gone either way”.

Foran said Eels coach Brad Arthur, who worked with Foran as an assistant coach at the Sea Eagles, played a big part in convincing him to move west.

“There’s no hiding from the fact that (Arthur) played a big part,” he said. “He’s someone I really respect, someone I’ve got a lot of time for and, more importantly, someone that I enjoyed playing under in that 2013 season and working with.”

The 24-year-old said he respected Sea Eagles boss Geoff Toovey but was disappointed to see Glenn Stewart leave the club in the off-season.

“It definitely took a toll on me, I was extremely close with Glenn,” he said. Foran also said leaving shortly after halves partner Daly Cherry Evans was a tough decision but denied he was leaving a sinking ship, claiming Manly will “always be winners.”

'Until 9.00am I was still tossing and turning on the decision... it could have gone either way' - Foran. #9News pic.twitter.com/pNGcad7D8b

— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) March 16, 2015

Sea Eagles officials today confirmed Foran has signed a four-year deal with the Eels, starting from 2016.

Foran told his Manly teammates he was leaving at 9.45am at the Sea Eagles’ Narrabeen headquarters.

It is understood Foran agreed to terms with Parramatta last Thursday.

The decision is a crushing blow for Manly, still reeling from losing halfback Daly Cherry-Evans last week.

Manly has until round 13 to try and persuade Foran to renege on the deal.

Foran though is a man of honour and it’s highly unlikely he would sign with Parramatta and then want the contract torn up.

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Kieran Foran has signed a four-year deal with Parramatta.

Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey was disappointed by Foran’s decision to quit Manly, but backed the star five-eighth to play a key role for the club in 2015.

“Kieran is a fantastic player and a wonderful young man. He has played an integral role in the club’s recent on-field successes and will do so for the remainder of this season,” Toovey said.

‘Kieran has the utmost respect of everyone at the club and we are proud to have seen him develop into the player that he is today.

“While today’s news is disappointing, we respect his decision and will move on quickly to ensure that’s we’re focused for Friday night’s clash with the Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval.”

Manly chief executive Joe Kelly said the club would now turn its focus on to recruitment. The Sea Eagles have been linked a bid for South Sydney grand final hero Sam Burgess, who is currently playing rugby union in England.

“The club is now in a position of having the resources necessary to recruit some of the best talent in the marketplace, to ensure that the Sea Eagles remain a dominant team in the NRL,” Kelly said.

“We have an extremely bright future here at Manly. There is some prodigious young talent rising through our junior ranks, we have increased our resources in the football department, and we are investing in state of the art training facilities.”