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. Watmough heavily involved in getting him across too. DCE can go and visit someone else on Monday...Manly Sea Eagles superstar Kieran Foran to join Parramatta Eels
February 25, 2015 - 11:59PM
Adrian Proszenko
Chief Rugby League Reporter
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Switching colours: Kieran Foran in Manly’s superhero strip last year. He is set to be wearing blue and gold more often in 2016. Photo: Getty Images
Kieran Foran is poised to sign a multimillion-dollar, four-year deal with Parramatta by the end of the week.
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Foran has decided his future is in blue and gold and only needs to work through the final terms of the contract to become one of the biggest signings in the club's history. Fairfax Media revealed on October 22 that Foran was on the top of Parramatta's hit list after the departure of Jarryd Hayne left the club with money to spend on a marquee signing. And the Eels appear to have got their man after putting together a contract package that will prise him from arch rivals Manly. The New Zealand international will be the second Sea Eagles superstar to defect in recent times following Anthony Watmough's decision to shift from Brookvale.
The Eels have been tight-lipped throughout the process, to the point where they have never mentioned his name or their intentions publicly.
Foran did not wish to formally talk terms with potential suitors until he had decided where he wanted to play his football, out of a mark of respect to incumbent club Manly. The biggest factor in the 24 year old's deliberations was deciding which club would best develop him as a player. Having spent time with Brad Arthur at Brookvale, Foran decided the Eels coach was the man to help raise his game to the next level. Canterbury, the Warriors and the Roosters were also prepared to open their chequebooks but never got the chance.
Sea Eagles halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans has played out his negotiations in public, but Foran has taken a low-key approach to ensure minimum disruption to the club which handed him his NRL debut back in 2009. While money was not his top priority, Foran will be well compensated for his move out west. The Eels have put together a package that will ensure he makes more than a million per season once endorsements are factored in. The departure of Hayne, who is poised to sign with an NFL franchise in coming days, has freed up funds for a superstar the Eels feel they can build a team around. While Arthur is yet to name his skipper for his 2015 campaign, Foran is viewed as the long-term skipper following his arrival in 2015.
Foran's signature will only add further spice to the blockbuster round one clash between old rivals Manly and Parramatta at Pirtek Stadium. The are already plenty of former Sea Eagles in the Eels ranks including Arthur, Watmough, Hopoate, Darcy Lussick and Richie Fa'aoso, but Foran's addition will ensure the tensions between the clubs escalate to 1980s levels. The news comes as the Sea Eagles prepare for their season launch on Thursday.
Watmough played a pivotal role in the signing coup, regularly communicating to Foran his thoughts about the talent and stability in the Eels squad.
The pressure is now on Manly to ensure they don't lose Cherry-Evans as well. Chairman Scott Penn predicted both halves would be signed by Christmas but will now need to boost their offer to Cherry-Evans to ensure they can retain one. The Queensland and Australian halfback indicated he will give the Sea Eagles a final opportunity to increase their bid after exploring his options, which include the Gold Coast and Cronulla.
"Daly Cherry-Evans has completed his due diligence in finalising what he believes to be a very important decision for his families [sic] happiness and also his rugby league career," Cherry-Evans' manager Gavin Orr said in statement.
"He understands people may be disappointed in the attention this procedure has received, but as he moves to finalise it he feels as though he has done everything to ensure the long term happiness of his family and football success.
Cherry-Evans added: "I am very pleased this process is finished and I now look forward to sitting down with Manly with a view to making a decision in the near future".
Cherry-Evans is considering a rich $1.3 million per-season deal with the Titans while the Sharks are looking to entice the incumbent Kangaroos half with a $2.7 million three-year deal.
