Tuivasa-Sheck, Foran closing in on NRL return

Yes Joe it just stinks. Put Johnson on the wing and let him have 3 runs a game there. The last coach refused to pick Hurrell and kept selecting average reserve graders for the centres so Hurrell was forced out of the club, and now I see another possible great being not used properly and will leave

The NRL is not choosing to do that so all must be OK. I dont believe the NRL has any say at all who trains at an NRL club. I have seen stories of Hockey teams, International rugby teams and even this week the female 7s team trained with the Tigers so NRL runs a comp ( badly) not training facilities

Cheers mate, definitely not making light of it. Just questioning the NRL's process.

Fair enough TB I don't disagree with any of that. And particularly agree that this should all be done behind closed doors. I guess by lumping RTS' knee into the same basket I thought you were making light of mental health. When clearly you weren't.

I never referred to mental health as an injury. I work in workers compensation industry and have dealt directly and indirectly with people with mental health issues and getting them back to work every day for the past 17 years. I've never had a she'll be right mentality. There are more things to consider than the NRL's brand or duty of care. There are also issues around 'demonising' mental illness and giving people with mental health issues additional hoops to jump through as opposed to people with a physical injury. Or making them prove that they're 100% better before allowing them back in the workplace. Referring to someone with mental health issues as "a known mentally unstable person" or "going off the deep end" is an example of this and certainly poorer terminology than anything I've used. I'm all for the NRL supporting players with mental illness but they're not doing anything to support Foran. They're calling for final sign off of his fitness and basically lumping Foran's mental health in with his dodgy associations. If the NRL bases their assessment on Foran's treating medical providers what value are they adding to the process? None. Other than dragging Foran's mental health through the media again - do you think that's helpful? How does that benefit Foran in any way? If the NRL intends to make their own determination on Foran's fitness to play then that's not a duty of care, it's negligent. I'm not suggesting that we all say "she'll be right" I'm saying the NRL doesn't have a public role in this process. The decision should be between Foran and his treating providers. If the NRL want assurances it should be done behind closed doors.

I just think that it is fine for a club to let me or Dave Taylor train with them but the NRL are consciously choosing not to accept Foran's contract and that is for a reason - whether valid or not. At the end of the day of the NRL said, Player X can't train with your club, it is their call, not the clubs, because if the club is defiant, the NRL fines them, or holds back funding. anyway, just a thought..

Your point is well made but you are probably looking at two different responsibilities. The NRL rules on who is allowed to play in the NRL comp, the club itself though rules on who can train with the team. Basically this means the Warriors are satisfied that he is fit to be around their facilities, now it's up to the NRL to decide whether they think he is fit to play in the comp.

Ive never heard of mental health being described as an injury. But then again the "she'll be right" mentality is very much alive and well in Australia. I applaud the NRL for appreciating how serious a disease it is. And putting the players welfare first and foremost. But also their brand, as they'd be aware the negative publicity it would cause if Foran was to regress. Unlike a shoulder injury there is no quick fix (operation, rehab). It would be negligent to put a known mentally unstable person back into the high pressure fishbowl that is the NRL. Without first getting assurances from those with the qualifications.

Lolohea on the wing again!? Geez I thought he'd be a lock for the 6 jersey this season, at the very worst in the centres...totally wasted on the wing.

I would have thought Parra would be happy with the massive money now up for use with Foran gone! I realise Parra is not the issue. So lets see Foran cleared, cause how long does it take to ask a few people a few questions? Get Foran playing in the nines and talking with the media, before the media begin to circle around unanswered questions and make something out of nothing much! Although I might be a bit one eyed here.

Dave Taylor hasn't been implicated with alleged match fixing, gambling issues etc. I would suggest the NRL and it's clubs should be more selective with who they allow into their facilities.

It's all about brand management. They don't want a player of his profile going off the deep end again and having another 12 months worth of field days for the press.

I was referring to his mental health rather than shoulder injury. I don't know that the NRL should have any more involvement in his mental health than they should in his physical.

I don't think they have any interest in his shoulder. But perfectly understandable to be concerned about his mental health. It could be seen as negligent by the NRL to allow him back on the field, under the intense spotlight, if he hadn't received clearance from his doctors. I assume the guy will get hammered by the media, and the NRL will want to know he is of sound mind. Maybe not when in Auckland. But every second weekend he's back in Oz.

I dont think its to do with the injury. Only who he talks to

The NRL want assurances on Foran’s mental health and relationship with gambling identity Eddie Hayson before ratifying his Warriors contract. This is from the article, pretty self explanatory. The Auckland-born playmaker was at pre-season training on Monday doing some sprints and drills with Warriors teammates but mostly trained solo. This is also from the article, mainly relating to Mondays session, but wouldnt surprise me if most of them are like this. Seems like the Warriors are monitoring this situation pretty well and I am sure that if the NRL had any issues they would have stopped him training.

If it is the gambling issue they are still investigating, then I would suggest he shouldn't be near any players or facilities until he is cleared. Right? If it relates to his shoulder, then it is a club thing and the NRL should have ratified his contract. If it is his mental health that is making the NRL hesitate endorsing his contract, then they obviously have liability concerns in which case he shouldn't be near an NRL workplace.

I can understand the NRL taking an interest in Forans relationship with Hayson but surely his recovery from injury should be managed by medical staff and not require any special sign off from the NRL? Are they going to give the green light on RTS' knee?

You didn't read the story did you Beej?

Does anybody know the NRL rules around who a registered player can and cant mix with? Is this a policy or just depends on who the player is? Why does the NRL need 2.5 months to decide when Foran can or cant return? Surely they ring him and say...Will you be willing not to see person X...He says yes...Contract registered...He says no...Contract thrown out window of moving bus...