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The off-field drama Parramatta Eels captain Kieran Foran kept secret before returning to Brookvale to dismantle Manly Sea Eagles
April 16, 2016 - 8:00PM
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Foran leads Eels to late win over Sea Eagles
By DANNY WEIDLER
Kieran Foran had plenty to deal with facing Manly for the first time on Thursday but there was an issue closer to home that again highlighted his mental strength and ability to deal with what is in front of him on the field.
Foran kept the fact that his eight-week-old son had to be hospitalised in the lead-up to the game quiet from the media and most of his teammates.
He had a bronchial infection and Foran played against his old team with his son in hospital. He got out on Thursday night after the game.
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Happy return: Kieran Foran talks to former teammate Steve Matai following Parramatta's win over Manly at Brookvale. Photo: Cameron Spencer
Foran is such a committed dad that he even slept in hospital by his son's side. Parramatta's star recruit didn't miss a beat in the lead-up to the match; when I interviewed him early in the week he was able to put his home dramas to one side, but those who know him well say he was affected by it.
Foran presented a smiling face under pressure and even did an interview with Nine in his full playing kit moments before a high-pressure match. That is a rarity and further reflection of the kind of person he is.
It's why Trent Barrett and the Sea Eagles face questions from within and outside their organisation as to whether they should have kept the right half at the club.
The Siren: Gosh Daher, with his son Jayden Phillip Daher. Photo: Supplied
Truth be known, Eagles greats and officials saw Foran as the player to build a club around. He had the potential to be in Bob Fulton , Steve Menzies and Brett Stewart
territory as a great of the club.
But, in fairness to the Eagles, Foran was never going to stay and to say they chose the wrong half is unfair to both the club and Daly Cherry-Evans .
Foran was over the in-fighting at the club. It was making a sport he loved a chore. There were divisions at board level, in the playing group and the coach was on the way out.
Just this week he said: "I needed the change".
The best indication of that was the now famous "drama" clause that his management inserted in his Parramatta contract ? that's how deeply he was affected by what had happened in his Manly days.
Foran has never looked happier than he does right now as a Parramatta skipper. He is aware that there could be some dark days ahead as the Eels stare down the barrel of losing competition points over the ongoing salary cap drama.
Siren mark II
League tragics, particularly Dragons fans, will know the story of the Phantom Siren. The man who could stop games through his amazing ability to imitate a siren.
Not as well known is his friendship with the late Phillip Hughes.
The Siren, also known as Gosh Daher, recently had a little boy named Jayden Phillip Daher after his dear mate. And, like dad, Jayden has a good set of lungs on him.
Happier times: Sonya and Rocco Heighington visit the fire station after Sunday's near miss.
Close call shakes family
One week later Sonya Heighington is still struggling to talk about what happened to her beautiful boy Rocco last Sunday afternoon. Also badly affected was the driver who wasn't at the wheel when Rocco was hit.
The level of sympathy for him in the Heighington household is not high. If you ask Sonya to discuss the matter her stomach drops as she tries to explain her emotions. Just thinking of it makes her anxious and she can't talk about the events of that day.
When I saw her she was still visibly shaken and had not eaten 18 hours after Rocco ended up under the wheels of a maintenance vehicle.
Her husband Chris wants a full review of post-match activities.
"It needs to be looked at," he said. "I can't imagine what it would be like not to have Rocco."
And Sonya agrees. The matter is put into perspective when you talk to the Sharks players.
"We were all rattled by this," skipper Paul Gallen said.
Wade Graham : "There are a lot of older players in our team and a lot of dads in the team so it affected us in a big way."
Ben Barba's actions were breathtaking in their desperation. His heroic sprint to the vehicle is understood when he explains what he saw.
"I just watched the tyres go over the poor little bloke and I just took off," he said. Chris explains: "He was stuck in the back tyre. It was very worrying. I want to thank my teammates for their reaction.
"It was such a crazy scenario. A hectic day. I was only a metre away when it happened. And I felt helpless because I couldn't do anything in time. Taggers (Sam Tagataese) and (Andrew) Fifita were there and got the buggy off him. I don't want anyone to be put in the same situation we were."
The incident has an upside for Rocco.
"We asked him what he wanted to do as we tried to make him feel better and he said he wanted to go to the fire station," Chris said.
"We took him there and it looked to be shut and we knocked on the door and there were four firies in there and they were good enough to let us in. He got to sound the siren and he loved it. It made his day."
Issy's Kiwi link
Israel Folau only has Karmichael Hunt to be compared to when it comes to being a three-code hopper. But in all that switching the travel gear he favours belongs to his girlfriend, New Zealand netballer Maria Tutaia . When he travels he carries his gear in a Silver Ferns bag.
The slap: Nathan Brown gives Trent Barrett a touch-up.
Anzac Day showdown
The Knights play Manly on Anzac Day and it pits Nathan Brown against Trent Barrett as coaches for the first time.
The former Dragons teammates are forever linked by THAT slap when Brown was coaching the Dragons in his first incarnation as a coach. Brown said recently that it was the biggest regret of his career.
In a weird twist the Dragons were playing Manly that day ? the team that Barrett is now coaching. When Barrett came off the field that day he bumped into then Manly media man Peter Peters , who is now Barrett's football manager at the Eagles.
At the time Barrett asked Peters: "Zorb, if that happened to you, how would you have reacted?"
"If it was me I would have put one on his chin," was the reply.
SBW makes a hero's day
New York Fire Department battalion chief Phil Tufano is a reluctant hero. He lost mates in the September 11 terror attacks, too many of them.
So when my colleague, Channel Nine's Simon Bouda,
caught up with Tufano in his fire house in Manhattan's lower east side recently he shared some of those experiences.
Tufano opened his heart, talking about the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression on his workmates all these years on.
He also revealed that in the land where football is played on the gridiron, he's a keen and capable rugby union player. Tufano's home is bedecked in sporting memorabilia. Rugby mementoes are his pride and joy.
"What's the one piece of memorabilia you desire most?", Bouda asked him as they downed a few beers in a bar in Queens.
"You could never get your hands on one," came the reply.
"Try me," Bouda fired back.
"A signed Sonny Bill Williams jersey," said Tufano. And so - on return to Australia - Bouda made it his mission to help fulfil this wish.
Reaching out to SBW's manager, Khoder Nasser , Bouda was surprised with the response.
"No problem mate ? these blokes are heroes," Nasser responded. "Leave it with me."
And so a wish came true. Nasser handed over a signed All Blacks jersey a few days later.
It wasn't just any jersey. This one was worn by SBW during the 2015 World Cup match against Georgia in Cardiff - it even had a small tear in the sleeve.
"To Phil, keep playing hard, SBW," the All Blacks star scrawled on the front.
Prized possession: Phil Tufano and son Jake with the signed Sonny Bill Williams jersey
In this photo Phil's proudly holding it up. Look closely and you'll spot the black eye Tufano earned in a recent ruck.
The jumper now has pride of place in Tufano's home and, who knows, they might even catch up with each other when the All Blacks head to Chicago to play Ireland later this year.
Tufano and his firefighting mates already have tickets. He had one more comment to make:
"Mr Williams' speed, athleticism, and unique skill set make him a joy to watch. He is my rugby idol and can't thank you enough for the effort or him for his generosity. If I could give him one bit of unsolicited advice it would be this: DITCH RUGBY LEAGUE!!!!! Union is far superior and better showcases Mr Williams amazing abilities."
High price to pay
It's hard to see Mitchell Moses or Luke Brooks getting bigger offers than the $600,000 or so that they are looking at for next year if they take up the options they have at the Tigers.
Both players have wisely decided to leave the process to their agent.
"My manager is handling everything because I haven't really been in this situation before," Brooks said.
Moses said: "If I was worrying about my contract I couldn't concentrate on playing good football ? and I have been pretty happy with how I'm playing and that's because I can focus." The issue facing the pair is that their manager has been asking huge dollars for them ? around $800,000 per player.
They may be worth that in years to come. Right now clubs say they that they have been priced out of the market.
Which is good news for the Tigers. The most likely result is the the pair will take up options to stay at the Tigers.
No decision: Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks. Photo: Ben Rushton
The highest-profile Tiger and former skipper Robbie Farah has some simple advice for the pair:
"Don't let the dollars rule the decision that you make," he said. "Its about a lot more than that."
The ongoing questioning isn't getting to the pair, who seem quite relaxed.
Moses insists he is not playing the club by making them wait to see if they will take up an option after the original deadline of January was extended.
"I just don't want it in my head for now," he said. I like to play with a clear mind. If I don't things can go to shit."
