Manly have confirmed the worst-kept secret in the NRL, announcing late on Saturday night that Kieran Foran has signed a deal that keeps the star five-eighth at the club until the end of 2015.
The 21-year-old New Zealand international has agreed to terms on a new three-year contract, securing his future with halves partner and 2011 Dally M rookie of the year Daly Cherry-Evans.
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler had been desperate to lure Foran across to Belmore after walking out on the Sea Eagles after guiding the club to last year’s premiership.
But Foran said he was looking forward to furthering his career at the club that gave him his start.
“This has been the toughest decision of my life, but I love playing with my mates and playing with a club that has such a great culture and strong values,” he said.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their patience during this process.”
Foran made his NRL debut for the Sea Eagles in 2009 and has represented New Zealand in seven Test matches.
But Manly coach Geoff Toovey said Foran was destined for even greater heights.
“Kieran has a fantastic future at this great club,” Toovey said.
“Despite enormous outside pressure, he’s handled this process very professionally and it’s a great reflection of the club’s spirit, culture and camaraderie that he has decided to stay.”
Bearfax
Guest
Hey Tangles. I dont know what you think Matai has done but I am well pleased that he is staying at Manly. We won a few premierships with that 'risk' and believe me he contributed substantially ,through some brilliant paly, to those performances. His combination with Wolfman, gave the latter many tries to help make his name. And saying Cronulla cant use him because of the 'risk' is quite incongruous when you think they were the only team to give the biggest 'risk' in the competition his break, that being Todd Carney. By the way I commended the Sharks for taking that 'risk' because I thought if the kid got his act together, he would repay them back big time...and history so far has proved me right. Rugby League is about taking risks.
Tangles
Guest
"HIs only problem is his neck problem and his discipline." Thats like saying Stan Jurds only problem was his lack of pace. Its exactly why cronulla dont need him. he is not worth the risk, either from a potential brain snap or even just being baited into giving penalties away, or from an injury perspective. Good news in todays herald, looks like hei s staying with manly.. A match made in heaven.
Bearfax
Guest
Seems in latest news that Manly look like resigning Brett Stewart for 3 years and also...wait for it...Tony Williams and Matai. Not sure of the accuracy of the report which is on FoxSports, but if so there has obviously been some creative accounting happening somewhere.
Bearfax
Guest
Tell that to Souths after their 70-71 premierships when they lost O'Neil, the two Brannigans, Moses, McCarthy, Coote,and Cleary for the following year. It happens. And in this restricted salary cap structure of the League, having too many players considered stars becomes a liability. Manly will lose a couple of their players because they cannot keep them under the cap, esp after paying big money for Foran and Cherry-Evans and probably Brett Stewart if he stays which is likely. Matai is not going to play for nothing at his age and if the big offer has been made from elsewhere he would have little choice but to take it. Hey and dont knock Matai. He is easily one of the best centres in the League and an International. His only problem is his discipline and his neck problem. He is a standout defender and an outstanding attacking player. As a Manly supporter I would be very sad to see him go. A real competitor just too competitive and exuberant at times. But Cronulla's coach seems able to contain the bad boy types so i suspect at Cronulla he would do very well. ps And I can see Cronulla being a big chance in vying for their first premiership in the next two years.
The Link
Guest
Yep it would be pointless for a 2 time premiership winning player to go to Cronulla if he wants to win another. Dohnuts after 45 years and it aint changin any time soon...
PLANKO
Guest
Tangles I am Manly Fan and I agree with you about Matai being a little short I think the main thing to consider is that he is good in a good team not that the sharks are not going well my concern for sides who pay him big "Money" is that I would not want to be shedding talent to get him.
Tangles
Guest
Please do not let sharkies recruit matai.. The guy is so thick he makes watmough look like a brain surgeon.. He is totally unnecessary for cronulla. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
First rule of successful free agency - sign your own good players to long-term contracts.
Andy
Guest
I think you are right about Matai, he will be a big loss. But it would be worse if Manly lost Ballin or the Stewart brothers, Manly's defense would become very poor.
eagleJack
Guest
From what I can gather both Matai (Sharks) and Lussick (Eels) are gone. Matai took a large pay cut in his last contract but now has a son with another on the way to think about. Young Hoppa and his team have been involved in trying to entice Oldfield (in NSW Cup - too old for the NYC) across to Parra. Manly will more than likely grant Kite an early release to take up offers in the UK. Both Stewarts will stay. Glenn already signed til the end of 2013, his get out clause not activated. That leaves Ballin and T-Rex. Both high priority. But obviously they may have used up all their 3rd party credit on retaining Foran and DCE. But you never know.
Bearfax
Guest
Phew. For a while there I thought the world had ended. If, as sounds likely, Manly retain the Stewart brothers given interest in Brett seems to have waned, the only other players of concern are Tony Williams, Lussick,Oldfield, Ballin and Matai. But I wonder if Manly has enough Money in the kitty to hold onto more than three of these. I suspect Hasler, now with lots of money available having missed Foran, will go all out to grab Williams bah humbug. Manly will struggle to hold Matai from a Cronulla offer. Lussick and Oldfield (now in Toyota Cup) have both gone off the boil since last year and I wonder if other clubs are as enthused to grab one of those youngsters as they were a few months ago. And it would surprise if Ballin left for any but a Brisbane/Gold Coast side, given family connections.
Nate Hornblower
Guest
Well done Manly and Kieran Foran. This is great for rugby league. Seeing a partnership like DCE and Foran broken up would have been like Stuart/Daley, Langer/Walters, Sterling and Kenny being split after a few seasons.