Eels Blogs

Yesssssss.....Unicorn Time

For the first time in seven years, Kieran Foran has pulled on the colours of an NRL club far removed from the maroon and white of Manly.

Wearing a grin on his face as he slipped on the blue and gold of Parramatta on Tuesday; Foran’s life as an Eel has officially begun.

And despite being labelled Parramatta’s most important signing in the club’s history by legendary halfback Peter Sterling, a determined and focused Foran said he is planning to rise above the hype and take his game to a whole new level.

“I haven’t looked back since making the decision. I can’t wait to get started,’’ Foran told The Daily Telegraph.

“I can’t stop thinking about it every day.

“I’m so excited by the change and the direction of which I can see this club heading.

“I’m aware of the pressure that comes with it, but at the same time I will use it as motivation and I’ll use it to hopefully take my game to new heights.

“I’m hoping it will go to a whole new level. You can never stop improving and there are certainly so many things in my game that I can improve on.’’

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THE SACRIFICE

Due to an elbow injury, Foran was unable to complete a single upper-body weights session over the final 12-rounds of the 2015 season with Manly.

Scans at the time revealed minor damage, however follow-up X-rays with the Eels medical staff two weeks ago showed he had aggravated the injury to cause a torn ligament.

The injury has ruled him out of New Zealand’s upcoming tour of England. Vice-captain of the Kiwis, Foran’s dejection has been countered by the fact he will have his first full off-season in five years.

“It’s disappointing because I was really looking forward to going, but the reality is I have a genuine injury and the medical advice is that it wouldn’t be the best thing to do,’’ Foran said.

“If I was to go on the tour, I wouldn’t have got back until mid-November. Then I’ve got to give it (elbow) 10 to 12 weeks rest, so I was looking at late January before I’m back into it.

“It’s just too late a start. Especially starting at a new club, I just don’t think I can do it.

“Not going on the tour is disappointing, but I just to have to put my body first for once. So many times I haven’t done it and it does end up putting you behind.

“I need to be able to have myself in the best condition I can have myself in for next season.’’

Kieran Foran’s life as a Parrammatta Eel has officially begun. Source: Supplied

ARTHUR’S IMPACT

Foran’s special relationship with Eels coach and former Manly assistant Brad Arthur was the overriding factor in his decision to shift 40km west of the Peninsula for the next four years.

“It started when he rolled into Manly at the back end of 2012 and I remember I didn’t know much about him then, but after about two weeks I could just see something,’’ Foran said.

“I knew that this was a bloke that I was going to connect with.

“I think we’re very similar in personality. Brad lives and breathes his footy and anyone that knows me, knows I do too.

“I just loved working under him and enjoyed him critiquing things and telling me what I wasn’t doing right and what I was doing right.

“Then when he left I just knew he was someone I wanted to play under.

“I’m excited by it because I can see a lot of improvement in myself under Brad and the rest of the coaching staff.”

FORAN-NORMAN

Foran’s arrival will bring together a premiership-winning playmaker with the Eels most consistent player in 2015, five-eighth Corey Norman.

The pair have never played together, but yet again Foran is salivating at the challenge.

“I’m excited by playing with Normie (Norman) as I am with all the boys, it’s a strong roster.

“Our playing styles will suit each other 100 per cent. I don’t think it will take long for us to strike up a combination and work out how we want to position ourselves and get the team around the park.

“It's a new challenge, I’ve played with Chez (Daly Cherry-Evans) for basically the last five or six years and it will be exciting to strike up a combination with Normie.’’

The Eels commence pre-season training on November 2.