Furore over Foran, and a suspect spine
OPINION: This first bit’s a bit lengthy, but I won’t bury the angle.
Kieran Foran shouldn’t be playing for the Warriors this year. He shouldn’t be playing for anyone. But if people insist he be allowed to play in 2017, it should be for Parramatta.
He had a contract with them, remember. Sadly his problems were so many and varied that he couldn’t see even the first year of that four-year deal out.
Only, you wouldn’t believe it. The minute the former Manly five-eighth relocated to Auckland all the dark clouds parted. Honestly, the guy’s never been in a better space.
I don’t know what state his mind is in, or what his relationship status is, or how he felt when he rang journalist Rebecca Wilson and whether he and Sydney identity Eddie Hayson still catch up. He did reveal last year he’d made an attempt on his own life.
I know how Foran was regarded in his Manly days. Rock-solid family man, bloke of his word, one of the most hard-working and reliable players in the NRL.
He told coach Brad Arthur he’d come to Parramatta and no matter how foolish that appeared, Foran had made a promise and was going to keep it. People respected that.
What happened from there was astonishing, as was him linking with the Warriors and the NRL registering that one-year contract.
Much of what’s been said and written about Foran since moving to Auckland beggars belief. There’s been a concerted campaign to present him in a certain light that is, frankly, an insult to everyone’s intelligence.
Let’s talk spines
If I hear the word spine one more time, God help me.
The Warriors apparently have one. And a good one at that. ’’Great spine this year ... best spine in the comp ... would you look at that spine.’’
Fullback Roger Tuivasa-sheck had three full seasons of first-grade at the Roosters. They were minor premiers in each of those seasons, winning the title in the first of them.
Good team, then. Strong supporting cast. Rather better than this Warriors team, in my view.
Foran, at his best, was as good a five-eighth as anyone in the competition. Can he get through a full season, let alone return to the form of his Manly days? Jury’s out on that.
Every few months, halfback Shaun Johnson plays well. He greets this occurrence by rising to his feet after scoring a try and uttering several oaths in the direction of his detractors, who he would mention again post-match.
Johnson will then fail to get the team to the playoffs, as has been the case in the last five seasons of his six-year NRL career.
At the Rabbitohs, hooker Issac Luke played behind the competition’s pre-eminent pack. Slight and with explosive speed off the mark, Luke’s dummy-half scurries were a wonderful weapon.
Neither the Warriors’ pack, nor Luke’s knees and general condition, have helped make that a regular sight at his new club.
So there’s your spine.
Elsewhere
Most people are agreed that Melbourne and Penrith boast useful title hopes this year. Others, such as Canberra, the Cowboys and Roosters appear top-four contenders, then you’ve got the rest.
If Cameron Smith stays fit, I can’t go past Melbourne. RORUONUNDDO1 NE
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Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney 10.05pm Thursday Matt Cecchin, Alan Shortall Sharks $2.00, Broncos $1.75
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Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney 8.00pm Friday Gerard Sutton, Matt Noyen Bulldogs $1.95, Storm $1.80
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ANZ Stadium, Sydney 10.05pm Friday Ashley Klein, Chris James Rabbitohs $1.62, Tigers $2.20 Jubilee Oval, Sydney 6.30pm Saturday Henry Perenara, Peter Gough Dragons $2.90, Panthers $1.37 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville 9.00pm Saturday Ben Cummins, Chris Sutton Cowboys $1.37, Raiders $2.90 Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast 11pm Saturday Gavin Badger, Jon Stone Titans $2.10, Roosters $1.67 Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland 4pm Sunday David Munro, Alan Shortall Warriors $1.15, Knights $5.00 Live blog on stuff.co.nz
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Lottoland, Sydney 6pm Sunday Grant Atkins, Chris Butler Sea Eagles $1.75, Eels $2.00
Teams, the Warriors among them, spend a lot of money trying to buy some Storm DNA, in the form of players or assistant coaches. Unless you get captain Smith or head coach Craig Bellamy, you’re just getting a pale imitation.
The Broncos, Bulldogs, Eels, Warriors, Rabbitohs, Titans, Tigers, Sea Eagles and Sharks are among the group who’ll have as many bad days as good ones and will hope to scrape into the top eight.
The Dragons and Knights don’t appear to even have that much hope.