Foran not likely to stay: Doyle
Warriors boss Jim Doyle admits Kieran Foran is unlikely to remain with the club next season.
Foran is understood to be keen on relocating back to Sydney to be closer to his two young children, and the Bulldogs is his expected destination for 2018 and beyond.
But Doyle denied suggestions a deal was done, claiming Foran is still in the process of weighing up his future and there is a “slim chance” he may choose Auckland over Sydney.
“He’s saying that he would like to stay, but we’re also 100 per cent clear of his family situation with the kids, he’s still working through that,” Doyle told Tony Veitch on Newstalk ZB yesterday. “It might be a slim chance, but certainly a chance.”
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has also insisted his side is yet to sign Foran.
“No contracts have been signed, so there is no agreement. There have been some discussion with their managements. So far they have been fairly positive but that’s all that’s been,” he said.
Hasler gave Foran his NRL debut at Manly in 2009 and the pair won a premiership together as a player and coach in 2011.
The Bulldogs mentor also stayed in contact with him during his off-field dramas last year but said that did not put him in a prize position to secure his signature.
“When he was ill, I think a lot of people were concerned — so a lot of people would have been supporting Kieran through that time,” Hasler said.
The Warriors’ decision to bring Foran to Auckland on a one-year deal has been criticised by some observers, but Doyle said the benefit of having a player of his calibre at the club — even if just for 12 months — far outweighed the negatives.
“Kieran’s preference would be to play with the club till September, see how this year goes, with seeing the kids every second weekend and all that sort of thing. That was his intention from day one. If that could work out well, possibly he could stay here longer. But unfortunately based on salary cap, club recruitment, etc, he’s getting asked to make decisions earlier and earlier. And that’s what he’s working through. It’s the kids, it’s not anything else.
“We always knew that Kieran was eventually going back to Sydney to be with his kids. But whether it’s this year, or next year, he’s always going to go back. But he hasn’t said he’s going to any particular team.”
Doyle says the Warriors are also expecting confirmation on the future of front rower Ben Matulino, who has been rumoured to be courted by the Wests Tigers, now coached by former Warriors mentor Ivan Cleary who was in charge of the player between 2008 and 2011.
“We’re still looking with Ben, he hasn’t decided yet either, but I think he’s pretty close to deciding also.”
The Warriors have 20 players off contract at the end of the season.