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DCE or Foran: who should Manly sign if there was only money for one?

19th November, 2014
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Kieran Foran should have stayed with Manly. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Expert
19th November, 2014
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1883 Reads

There’s nothing better than a good argument about rugby league players and I ran into a doozy at a Four Nations barbecue.

About a dozen of us had gathered for the New Zealand vs Australia decider when someone asked: if Manly could re-sign only one of their halves, would they plump for Daly Cherry-Evans or Kieran Foran?

Well, the debate started mid-afternoon and was still raging long after the Kiwis had run their victory lap.

There were solid reasons pushed for each player and his potential worth to the Sea Eagles. In the end, the see-saw ended up dead level.

I promised to transfer the discussion to The Roar. Our readers get a pretty fair handle on players’ value to their respective teams and after I’ve had my little say, I’d like to hand it over to you.

Foran got my vote in a photo.

He is the best five-eighth in the game and is on the way to a level that could easily see him rated right up with the best we have seen. I realise that is a bold statement when the likes of Wally Lewis, Brett Kenny and Brad Fittler spring to mind, but Kieran Foran seems to get better with every outing.

He appeals to me as the ultimate team player, forever creative and a terrific linkman in attack. In defence he’s as reliable as they come.

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He’s nowhere near as flashy as Cherry-Evans but that’s not his style, never has been.

Together, they are a duo Manly are prepared to move mountains to re-sign, but that won’t be easy with rivals queuing up with cheque books at the ready.

Coach Geoff Toovey says no deadline will be set for the dynamic duo’s signatures but it’s a safe bet he’ll sleep a lot better when one or both extend their deals beyond 2015.

Foran was Manly’s most valuable player in 2014. NRL stats show that DCE made more tackles and nudged Foran in the number of metres run, but the Kiwi No 6 was clearly the better of the two, with fewer errors and better decision-making.

He seems ideal to lead the Sea Eagles when Jamie Lyon’s playing days are over.

Anyway, that’s my view on the subject and I’d like to hand it over to the Roarers.

The question again: if Manly could re-sign only one of their halves combination, who should they go for and why?

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