After weeks fighting mental demons while his club battled for their NRL lives, Parramatta captain Kieran Foran’s season is over.
Following his side’s victory over the Newcastle Knights last night, the troubled playmaker was given the grim news this morning he will require major surgery on his shoulder.
This latest setback adds to what can charitably be called a season to forget for Foran.
A season that started with hamstring concerns for the Eels’ newest recruit and captain quickly escalated as his new club earned the ire of the NRL over salary cap breaches.
But Foran’s woes were not simply confined to the football field, his personal life was about to take some damaging blows.
A bitter relationship breakdown with his long-term partner, a reported prescription drug overdose quickly followed, culminating in the Eels captain stepping away from the game and checking into rehab to deal with this dark turn in his life.
Not long after his return, Foran was once again in the news as betting transactions from his personal TAB account ended up in a prominent Sydney newspaper.
But despite all the off field hits, he had recovered enough to return to the game he loves.
While his return game against the Melbourne Storm was far from his best, there was hope it was a sign of a possible return to some sort of normality for the troubled star.
Sadly, life is no fairytale.
As the first half in Newcastle drew to a close, Foran’s troublesome shoulder gave out once again.
With his season now over, Foran can hopefully take this unwanted injury layoff to spend time away from the rigours of week in, week out games to get himself mentally and physically well.
The path to recovery is a long road and Kieran undoubtedly has far to go, but the support offered by the NRL community throughout the past few weeks gives hope that he will have the people around him to help with his long journey.
:Johny Maccaroni
Guest
Yo...Those spoiled Rugby League players clearly have too much spare time to bugger around.... If they were busy, training and playing 11 months per year like first grade European Football players, they wouldn't be doing so many silly things.
Griffo
Guest
Jest or not, it was in poor taste. That's only acceptable at bad taste dress up parties, you know, when you go as Hitler or ... well I'm not even going to say what I was thinking.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
What on earth was parra doing playing him needled up when it was Newcastle. Stupidity feel sorry for Foran
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Wow, so many serious people here. Can't tell the Yay Manly comment was in jest? Move along, nothing to see here.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Yay Manly! Manly seem to have a knack for moving players on before they are trouble/over the hill. No offence mate, but I am not sure this is an appropriate response.
E-Meter
Guest
Yep Manly have still got Brett Stewart. How well is he going?
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
I see Parra doing this a lot this season. Any injury get the player out of the squad with a focus to next season. Not to mention you get to blood others.
The eye
Guest
The guy is a mental and physical wreck and you come up with 'yay Manly' ? You ought to put your head on before you get out of bed..
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Glenn Stewart as well
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Yay Manly! Manly seem to have a knack for moving players on before they are trouble/over the hill. Did it with Watmough and Foran.
steve b
Roar Guru
Get back in your hole Squirel comments like that are not needed!
steve b
Roar Guru
Best thing out the whole scenario is he will now have time to heal on his own time. And lets face it the Eels season was over as soon as the NRL made their grandstand annoucement and the players are bailing like rats on a sinking ship. And who could blame them because the s---t is really going to hit the fan shortly. But for mine you still have to ask why did the NRL have to annouce it when they did if they had known about it for quite some time to me it leaves more questions than answers lets hope it all comes out in the wash. But it dosent matter now the eels are gooone.
Mathew Langdon
Roar Pro
I agree Womblat, as much as this looks like a short term loss, hopefully he takes the time to get himself mentally right. So many people in that circumstance rush back to their jobs hoping for normality and suffer the consequences long term. He'll never be 'fixed' but he can learn to deal with his issues.
Womblat
Guest
As far as seasons go, surely it couldn't have been much worse, but at least it's over this year. Now he can sit back and wonder how he got so badly treated by luck and fate and circumstances. We've probably all had times like that. He'll be back bigger and better, he's too good a player not to.