Kieran Foran admits the opportunity to play under Parramatta coach Brad Arthur was the deciding factor in his decision to quit Manly.
Foran told his Sea Eagles teammates on Monday morning he was following halfback Daly Cherry-Evans out of the exit door at the end of the season.
The Kiwi Test star has agreed to a four-year contract believed to be worth in the region of $4.7m.
But the 24-year-old said linking up again with former Manly assistant Arthur was the biggest reason for swapping Sydney’s northern beaches for the western suburbs.
“There’s no hiding from the fact that played a part,” Foran told the Nine Network.
“He’s someone I really respect and have a whole lot of time for. But more importantly enjoyed playing under and working with in that 2013 season.
“I guess when he rang me and asked me about the opportunity of going there I took it as a good one.”
Foran denied his decision was an insult to Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey and said it was difficult breaking the news to him.
“I have the utmost respect for ‘Tooves’,” he said.
“It was hard, I could see the disappointment and hurt in his face. He is someone I have a lot of time for.”
The five-eighth also admitted feeling under huge pressure to stay after Cherry-Evans announced he was on his way to the Gold Coast knowing what a blow it would be for the club.
“I guess it did, I didn’t want to see Manly lose both of us,” he said.
“That is why I was wrestling with my decision up until this morning.”
Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp hailed the signing of Foran as a great day for the club and a sign the Eels are on their way to returning as a major force in the NRL – less than two years after claiming a second successive wooden spoon.
Sharp, who threatened to resign two years ago unless Arthur was given the job over Jason Taylor, said the influence of the coach is transforming the club after more than a decade of mediocrity.
“It’s a great day for our club when a player of Kieran’s ability decides to join us,” Sharp told AAP.
“He is already a fantastic player and under Brad Arthur’s coaching he will become an even better player than he is now.
“Brad’s created an environment here where the players want to play for him and I think this signing is evidence of that.
“The club is in a good place and it smells like a football club again.”
News of Foran’s exit was a bitter blow for the Sea Eagles, for so long the plunderers of other club’s talent.
Manly CEO Joe Kelly, who joined from South Sydney where he’d served as chief financial officer, last October, had made keeping Foran and Cherry-Evans his biggest goal when he was appointed.
He now finds himself having to turn to a shortlist of potential replacements in addition to finding a major sponsor with Kaspersky set to cut ties at the end of the year.
But he vowed to splash the cash to keep the club successful.
“The club is now in a position of having the resources necessary to recruit some of the best talent in the marketplace, to ensure the Sea Eagles remain a dominant team in the NRL,” Kelly said.
“We’ve an extremely bright future here at Manly.
“There is some prodigious young talent rising through our junior ranks.”
Tom G
Guest
precisely.. it's a load of hogwash, $4.7million worth
Cecil
Guest
Lol did you not see JT spin last years semi against the Roosters? Origins? Kangaroo games? Being the game breaker and setting up winning tries? In big games? Do you even watch rugby league?
G
Guest
If I was a parra fan I'd have preferred to have kept Hayne, what happens when he returns parra won't have any cap space for him? I guess the Roosters and Dogs would have plenty of space for him.
G
Guest
8th in '09
Luke M
Guest
The Eels are idiots then. If playing for Brad Arthur was his primary motivation, they could have offered him a quarter of what he signed for, maybe less.
Josh
Guest
There's 4.7 million reasons Foran is leaving Manly and none of them are about being able to play under Arthur. If manly could of rustled up more than the $4.7 million eels offer, he'd be at Brookvale for the next 4 years, probably spewing out the line about wanting to stay with the club that means so much to him. I bet he's been happy to watch DCE get slammed for how's he's handled his contract negotiations but somehow Foran's been an 'honest gentleman' about it?? I'd almost say someone who is upfront about their intentions is more honest than midnight phone calls and secret meetings.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I think it sometimes true when a player says they are looking for a fresh challenge, especially if they've achieved a lot at their club. I reckon that's why Bennett went to the Dragons initially.
planko
Guest
World's biggest I would love someone to put their hand on their heart and say "I went down to the bank saw what a extra 250k per season looks like and said yeah where do I sign"... I would be quite cool with that. Saying Brad Arthur is going to give me more direction and better advice than the best Half ever and one the gutsiest is either 1) delusional or 2) a lie You choose.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good luck to Foran but geeez I wish any athlete would actually say money was / is a factor. Sure Brad Arthur is highly regarded but 1.2 large per annum also had a big influence no doubt !
SpongeBob
Guest
"I'm not breaking up with you because you're bad, only because I've found someone better". Smooth.
Chris Love
Guest
Maybe Tooves can be Arthur's assistant at Parra?
Chris Love
Guest
LOL JT Money? I'd take Foran as a 6 over JT anyday. At least Foran can tackle and doesn't have to defend on the wing.
Chris Love
Guest
Rubbish, Kearney was a joke at Parramatta. HIndmarsh and Burt were in form legends at the club. Kearney put Parramatta in the gutter. Stuart kicked them while they were down.
Renegade
Guest
Are you saying he has been promised September's off? ;)
The eye
Guest
So,it's not the money..totally believe it..but the coaches ?..Arthur and Peter Gentle can teach him more than Tooves,Johns,Penna and Georgallis ? Parras 2014 season was good..and that's being kind...Tooves,get out mate,you're better and deserve better than this...it's one way traffic out on the road to anywhere else but here..
fazed
Guest
One thing that has impressed me with Arthour is the way he is getting some decent mileage out of Sandow (finally, maybe contract may be a reason as well) especially the way Norman has been improving under his coaching. I was unsure about Norman going in at 5/8 but the way both halves are now playing together has been a marvel, where this fits now for next year is an unknown. There is a fair chance that Sandow may stay, meaning one too many in the halves there, Foran will need time to work in with whoever is half, but one area I do not know in regard to Foran is if he would adapt to a #7 shirt to work with Norman? Being honest though I am not sure what player in the NRL is worth over a million $'s at this point of time. The club says it has money left for next year & recruitment has not stopped, that concerns me especially as to where it will leave the promising juniors at the club. While the lost of two players in the two key positions is hard, at least they can recruit from within players who may have worked together in the juniors or recruit at least one quality experienced player from outside who can help ease a younger player into the top grade.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
He says that the move wasn't about the massive contract, but about wanting to play under a different coach. How could that be anything but an insult to Tooves?
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Dry that one out and you can fertilise the lawn.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Especially with guaranteed four additional weeks of leave.
Tom G
Guest
I think his game will definitely be taken down to another level at Parramatta