If the reports are true and Kieran Foran is indeed leaving the Sea Eagles to join Parramatta then it truly is a disaster for Manly.
Foran has long been considered the more likely of the two Eagles halves to remain at the club and in many ways is the more important of the two players. Indeed one can argue that Kieran Foran is the most valuable commodity in the entire NRL.
First there is his unquestioned ability at a key position, with few doubts that he belongs in the top echelon of NRL playmakers. It is really only sharing a field with Daly Cherry-Evans that keeps Foran from drawing the plaudits he deserves. In 2014 Foran equalled Cherry-Evans’ total of 11 try assists, with far fewer errors while running for over 75 metres per game.
Then there is his age. At only 24 Foran is younger even than Cherry-Evans and substantially younger than other high value players such as Johnathan Thurston, Cam Smith and Greg Inglis.
Foran has also proven to be remarkably durable, missing just 16 of the Sea Eagles’ 144 games since his debut in late 2009. This despite an aggressive style in both attack and defence that puts his body on the line many times every game.
Moreover, unlike all the players listed above, Foran doesn’t have the added burden of three games of State of Origin every season. It may be a shame for the competition that Foran doesn’t get to play in those big games but it certainly adds value for his club side.
Furthermore, while Tim Mannah is a fine leader Foran may well walk into at the very least co-captaincy at the Eels as well. Overall Foran presents an incredible all-around package and could well anchor the Eels for the best part of a decade.
Meanwhile, with Foran reportedly gone and Cherry-Evans getting a Godfather offer from the Titans (and with other clubs waiting in the wings should he turn them down) Sea Eagles management faces an agonising decision about just how much of their future to mortgage to attempt to retain Cherry-Evans.
The worrying thought from a fan’s perspective would be for the management to now overpay Cherry-Evans in order to try to save face on the earlier promise of chairman Scott Penn that both halves would be re-signed by Christmas.
Cherry-Evans is a wonderful player but evidence is mounting that he’s not exactly a popular man around the locker room. While the club’s practice of backloading the contracts of star players is probably most to blame for the current salary cap squeeze, it is clear that there is a perception in the playing group that it is Cherry-Evans’ salary drain that is largely to blame. A new and improved offer from the club will only exacerbate those feelings of resentment.
Perhaps the worst case scenario, and one that is looking all too plausible, would be to lose both Foran and Cherry-Evans just 12 months after losing Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmough, who were sacrificed in the quest to keep the star halves.
The Foran and Cherry-Evans decisions will also have ramifications throughout the league as the great halfback bonanza begins to get wrapped up. With the Eagles pair soon to be off the market it seems likely that the remaining off-contract halves such as James Maloney, Aidan Sezer, Chris Sandow and Trent Hodkinson will soon also find a home for 2016. Clubs such as the Sharks will be watching closely.
Decisions made in the next few weeks will affect the competition for years to come and on the current trajectory it could well spell a rebuilding period for Manly.
Follow Lachlan on Twitter @mrsports
Jay C
Roar Guru
Also of note The Titans Mail is that DCE is wrapped up. The Sharks mail is they have secured the services of DCE. Ricky Stuart believes he has signed everyone. Manly have heard they are getting their two men. And no other teams have any players who have ever done any drugs.
Kirk
Guest
"The Eels mail is that Foran has agreed to play at Parra and the ONLY way that will not happen is if he changes his mind." thats a pretty big if.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I'm a Brisbane, a QLD, and ab Australia fan. Foran is the better player. X-factor is the most overrated subject in sports, and consequently will lose out to hard work and effort 9/10 times.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Eye TPA's are magical!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Haha not having a go at you at all Scott. It's just that in these situations the only people who truly know what is going to happen is the player at the centre of the story. Both DCE and Foran would have fielded big offers from a plethora of clubs. Those claiming that the Foran deal with the Eels was done in December are peddling BS. Multiple sources have stated that he was locked into re-signing a Manly contract only a week ago. So it is all just guess work from the rest of us. Anyway, all will be revealed shortly. The 2015 NRL season begins this Thursday. But who would have known?! All the talk is about what is going to happen in 2016........
Parrafan
Guest
Can agree on that Tom G.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Fellas, hi.....looking forward to this week lol, My mail is. What the F do you want me to say? People ring me and I have contacts in most clubs. As for Parra, I have spoken directly with the journo who broke the story and also a from a Eel "mole" close to the coaches. As for the Dogs, again from an internal source and also a high profile player manager. Take it or leave it, I will still sleep. To Muzz Stats are a big part of what I do and Manly have lost nothing under Toovey since he has taken over from Des under very very difficult circumstances when the place was left in a mess. Toovey's figures are outstanding and importantly his players have great line speed and their defence is top class. Having said that, several players have a problem with him, but I can only judge on what I see on the field.
The eye
Guest
B Moz wouldve cost a fortune..the Mata utai brothers would be overs as was Lichaa..and now a zillion for Cherry,thats backloading to the eyeballs...wouldnt want to be the next coach in after Dessie
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haha. I'm never starting a post again with "I reckon..." It'll be "my mail is..." So much more authority.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sezer is a good young player but he's not 10% the player Foran is.
The Barry
Roar Guru
By the same token DCE and Johnson both play far better when they have Foran alongside them.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
In other words, mail or no mail, you have as much of an idea as the rest of us.
Muzz
Guest
What's the story with Toovey, Scott? Rumour has it he's on the way out.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
My mail is that the Bulldogs are a serious contender for DCE and in fact have the highest bid. They may well swap 7s. The Eels mail is that Foran has agreed to play at Parra and the ONLY way that will not happen is if he changes his mind.
Brad. H
Guest
Mal and Parrafan Wait till the contracts are signed THEN wait till 30/06 deadline because like handshake deals a modern league players signature on a legal contract doesnt mean squat .
Brad. H
Guest
Kaks 100% agree with you re: Parra , NSW & OZ , been that way for more years than I care to list.........50+ ;-) . If and it's a big freaken -- IF-- Parra gets Foran, for me it would be bigger than Souths getting Inglis
Tom G
Guest
When you steal your lines from Brian Waldron you have nothing
Tom G
Guest
Agree he is plain anti league, never ever has anything positive to say about the game
Roger
Guest
Of course you'd say Foran is better; your bunch is the group overpaying for him. You've got to justify it to yourself somehow! Foran has always had a dominant half alongside him for both Manly and NZ (Cherry-Evans and Johnson) and has never had to do much except not get in the way of the better half. Manly have looked terrible when he is running the show minus DCE.
pjm
Roar Rookie
It's $800k worth of loyalty, now they've got 30% of their cap tied up in 2 players.