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Reaction to Kieran Foran reportedly quitting the NRL

AS NEWS of his departure surfaced, Kieran Foran sent a simplistic text message to his teammates.

James Matthey and Dan Elsom
4 min read
July 8, 2016 - 8:05PM
Foran’s time in the blue and gold is reportedly over.
Foran’s time in the blue and gold is reportedly over.

PARRAMATTA just can’t take a trick.

After a horror 2016, star recruit Kieran Foran has spectacularly decided to quit the NRL.

He’s walking out on a $5 million contract with the Eels to reportedly sort out issues in his private life. So far this season he’s taken time out to attend a Brisbane rehab clinic and receive treatment for depression, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury and been fined and stripped of the club captaincy for missing rehab sessions.

Nothing’s gone right for him, or the western Sydney club this year.

Here’s how people reacted to his shock announcement.

BREAKING THE NEWS TO THE TEAM

Channel Nine reported on Friday night that Foran had officially requested a release from the Eels for the remainder of his playing contract with the club.

The announcement followed reports that the 25-year-old had sent a simple message to his Parramatta teammates to apologise for his decision.

“Guys I’m sorry that I have had to make this decision,” Foran told teammates.

“But at this stage of my life, I need my own time to sort out my private matters and I will continue to support u (sic) from afar.”

‘IT’S NEWS TO ME’

Managers sometimes know more about their clients’ futures than the players do, but it looks like that wasn’t the case with Foran.

The ABC reported Paul Sutton knew nothing of the star playmaker’s decision to walk out on his multi-million dollar deal.

“I am reading about it now. News to me,” Paul Sutton said in a text message to the ABC.

Sutton later released a statement to Nine News, confirming the playmaker was talking “indefinite leave” from the game.

“Kieran Foran has informed the Parramatta Eels that he needs indefinite leave from rugby league,” the statement said.

It also included quotes from Foran, who cited his personal and family situation as more important at this point in time than his career, asking the club to respect that.

“Right now my health and family are my concerns and I hope that the clubs and supporters of the Eels respect that. I want to thank the Eels for everything they have done for me,” Foran said.

THE CLUB

Foran is another big name to leave the Eels this year.
Foran is another big name to leave the Eels this year.

Just as it did when Semi Radradra allegedly walked out on the club a couple of weeks ago, Parramatta issued a statement contradicting media reports, saying Foran’s management had not requested a release from his contract.

“The Parramatta Eels have not received a request from Kieran Foran’s management regarding a release from his contract,” the statement read.

“Kieran’s welfare is the club’s primary concern and the Eels will continue to offer him all the resources available to aid in his recovery.

“The club will be making no further comment on the matter.”

This makes perfect sense given Foran’s manager was unaware his star client had apparently walked out on his contract.

However, it’s still possible Foran is leaving as The Daily Telegraph reported the 25-year-old personally approached coach Brad Arthur himself to let him know of his decision.

‘IT’S A HARD ONE TO CHEW DOWN ON’

Foran never got the chance to show Parramatta how valuable he could be.
Foran never got the chance to show Parramatta how valuable he could be.

Speaking on Triple M radio on Thursday morning, former Penrith and NSW centre Ryan Girdler addressed Foran’s bombshell.

He said the fact he was willing to walk away from such a massive pay packet was evidence money was a very distant priority behind getting himself better.

“That to me shows where Kieran is at,” Girdler said. “We all know he was on a lucrative contract of around $1.2 million or $1.3 million per season and he’s willing to put that on hold, put his rugby league career on hold and get his personal life in order.”

Girdler said Parramatta fans would no doubt find it a bitter pill to swallow, given Foran was touted as the club’s saviour. However, seeing as his departure could open the door for Jarryd Hayne to pull off the Prodigal Son act, he said the news might not be all bad for the blue and gold army.

“For Parramatta people it’s going to be a really hard one to chew down on after the year that they’ve had,” Girdler said. “But I think given the circumstances and where Kieran’s at in his own personal life, I think they need to look at it like it’s best if he does go away and sort himself out.

“And then the opportunity to obviously bring one of their favourite sons back in Jarryd Hayne.

“For a season this year that’s basically over when they get deducted 12 points anyway, they’re probably not going to make the eight and so it’s a bit of write-off season for Parramatta.

“If they can bring Jarryd Hayne back next year and wish Kieran all the best to get himself sorted out in his personal life well then maybe that’s a win-win for the club.”

Channel Nine reporter Danny Weidler echoed this sentiment, and said Foran’s manager probably hasn’t formally requested a release as there were still financial details that need to be sorted out given the Kiwi has a mortgage and children to support.

“This is a direct result of that (depression). Kieran Foran is not dealing with his life at the moment ... he doesn’t feel as if he can go on and play football,” Weidler said.

“His manager probably hasn’t put in a formal request for a release.

“All of a sudden Parramatta have $1.2 million free a year, and to sign Jarryd Hayne they would need about $1.5m so it makes it a real possibility.

“There’s no doubt Parramatta will be armed with cash to sign Jarryd Hayne.”

‘LIFE IS MORE THAN JUST FOOTBALL’

Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan threw his support behind Foran’s decision to do what was in his best interests.

“Life is more than just football,” he was quoted as saying by Channel 10 reporter Adam Hawse.

Plenty of people were in disbelief over yet another twist in the horror story that is the Parramatta Eels’ 2016 season, with many sympathetic to Foran’s situation.

If you or someone you know needs support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/reaction-to-kieran-foran-reportedly-quitting-the-nrl/news-story/5191e1414f841785ff645779385fcafa