Manly favourite Jamie Lyon may have been on to something last year when he predicted Josh Schuster might need a whole season or two to get comfortable in Kieran Foran’s No.6 jersey.
Foran returns to the northern beaches on Saturday evening hoping to inspire the Gold Coast Titans to an upset win over his old mates, including Daly Cherry-Evans.
Cherry-Evans and Foran won a premiership at Manly together in 2011, played some of their best football together, and have already made sure they and their families will spend time together after the game.
Foran failed to nail down a two-year extension at Manly before the Titans quickly swooped.
Meanwhile, Schuster, who is earning $800,000 a season – more than double what Foran had asked for – will not even feature against the Titans, instead using the time to improve his fitness after a string of injuries.
Plenty of Manly fans would forgive Foran for being a little bitter with his old club for showing him the door, but the 32-year-old has nothing but love for the Sea Eagles, and says he understands the decision to go with the 21-year-old playmaker.
Return of the favourite son: Kieran Foran will play against Manly at Brookvale for just the second time in his career.Credit: Getty Images
“Knowing ‘Schuey’, he’s a real competitor and someone who wants to be out there doing everything he can to help his side get the win,” Foran told this masthead.
“Injuries are part of the game, you can’t avoid them. Sometimes you’re faced with different challenges at different times of your career and he’s facing one now.
“One thing I do know is if you get through those tough challenges, you come out the other side a better human and a better footy player. If he stays in the fight, he’ll come out the other side all the better for it.
“He’ll be a wonderful player for a long time. There are no hard feelings from me. I understand the line of thinking from Manly.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran during their days as Manly teammates.Credit: NRL Photos
“I love Manly, I always will, they were such a big part of my life and my family’s life. My kids still live in the area. It’s the way footy works. You accept it and take up another challenge.”
Lyon, who won the 2008 title at five-eighth for Manly, told the Herald last year Foran’s chemistry with Cherry-Evans was always going to make it hard for Schuster to fill his boots.
Foran’s start to life on the holiday strip has featured his own injuries, including a knock to the knee in the opening round, then a calf complaint.
Kieran Foran has struck up a decent left-edge combination with David Fifita.Credit: Getty Images
“I haven’t been over the moon with my form, and it’s been a bit scratchy if I’m being blunt,” Foran said.
“But I know it will come and I’m doing everything I can to play the best footy possible. I just need to be patient.”
Foran will go directly head to head with Cherry-Evans, someone he has enjoyed watching in action from close range most of his career, and an opposition playmaker who overcame the loss of his regular partner to have Manly sitting in the top four.
It will be only the second time Foran has played against Manly at their spiritual home. The first time was 2016 when he was at Parramatta.
The sight of back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu running at him on the same edge had kept him up all week.
“And my wife [Karina] certainly hasn’t slept that much either; I think she’s more petrified than me,” Foran said.
“He’s a wonderful player, I know what sort of damage he can do – he’s unstoppable at times, and struck up a great combination with ‘Chez’. It will be a test for me.
“I’ve certainly enjoyed playing alongside my own [back-rower] David [Fifita]. He’s the fittest he’s been and finding that balance in his game between working hard and coming up with the X-factor plays. I’ve really enjoyed playing with him.
“When you pass to him, he can do things others can’t. For a big man, his lateral movement is like nothing I’ve seen before. He’s very fast. He has all the tricks in the bag.”
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