Manly’s Kieran Foran is expected to make a decision on his future early this week
David Riccio
The Sunday Telegraph
March 08, 2015 12:00AM
WITHIN the Manly inner-sanctum, they fear it could be the deal-breaker.
The Sea Eagles’ embarrassing 42-12 loss to Parramatta last Friday night could not have come at a worse time, with Manly’s Kieran Foran expected to make a call on whether to join the Eels on a three-year $1 million deal early this week.
The Eels have also discussed Foran as a future captain of the club.
Manly will need to move fast to secure their influential five-eighth because such was the demolition of their pack by Parramatta, Foran’s long-held concern that the future stocks of the once mighty Manly club are on the slide were realised for a second time in the space of a fortnight.
“I am still undecided on my future. Hopefully, I will come to a decision in the next week or two,” Foran said. “I am still working through the process.”
Adding to Foran’s pain is a hamstring injury suffered in the second half of last Friday’s night’s match that is expected to keep him sidelined for the next month.
Unlike two weeks ago, when the Sea Eagles were trounced in a trial against the Roosters, Manly’s deficiencies were on national television.
Foran’s desire is to improve as a player. But how does a half improve behind a pack failing to have an impact?
The Manly forwards were silenced by a Parramatta pack, who are far from the league’s most lethal unit. The statistics will do the Manly hierarchy trying to lure Foran no favours either.
They had more possession than Parramatta for more runs, but somehow the Sea Eagles carried the ball for less metres. Not one Manly forward managed to run for over 100m.
Bench forward Luke Burgess and lock Dunamis Lui were Manly’s best performers, with 98m each.
In comparison, Parramatta had three players clock over 120m.
Parramatta led 16-12 at half-time despite boasting less than half the amount of football Manly achieved.
A frustrated Foran was left to combine with Gold Coast-bound Daly Cherry-Evans behind a pack that appeared seriously lacking in leadership, which in seasons past would have been provided by departed props Brent Kite and Jason King.
Two weeks ago, Foran was set to sign with Manly.
He felt comfortable with the direction of the club and how coach Geoff Toovey would allow his game to go to the next level. But then Manly played a trial match against the Sydney Roosters.
The Sea Eagles failed to give a yelp, belted by the Roosters 36-6.
Lining up opposite Foran that night was his best mate, Roosters half-back Mitchell Pearce.
Pearce walked from the field fully aware of the confusion racing through the mind of his mate.
The Roosters also remain in the hunt for Foran’s signature. Parramatta’s Anthony Watmough is also mates with Foran. Publicly, he isn’t interested in commenting on the Eels’ pursuit of his former Manly teammate.
However, while happily confirming he was a certain starter for this Friday night’s clash with Canterbury after copping the knee of Manly’s James Hasson (who was put on report), Watmough conceded even he expected more of the Sea Eagles than what they were able to deliver against the Eels last Friday night.
“I know that they were down on numbers and troops, but I didn’t think it would be like that,’’ Watmough said.
“I really didn’t.
“They’ve got a great team and although we played relatively well, we did get a bounce of the ball our way.’’
Foran’s hamstring and his contract dilemma isn’t the only headache for Manly, with confirmation that rising star, centre Clint Gutherson, will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the first half.
