Foran’s ‘last throw’ in NRL
Kieran Foran’s time at Canterbury Bulldogs will be his last chance to resurrect his injury-plagued NRL career, according to a former Bulldogs premiership winner.
Foran has arrived at Belmore short of fitness having endured quad, hamstring, back and shoulder injuries playing with the Warriors this year, with the latter also cruelling his time at Parramatta in 2016.
Foran expects to sit out pre-season contact work until January the club’s legendary five-eighth Terry Lamb, who’s back at Canterbury to support new coach Dean Pay, noted his less-than-ideal condition.
And Graeme Hughes, who won a premiership with the Bulldogs in 1980, lamented Foran was no longer in his physical prime at just 27 years of age.
Speaking at the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic golf tournament, Hughes was doubtful of getting a full season out of the former Kiwis international, who has also been dealing with a series of offfield issues in recent years, including depression.
‘‘I don’t think Kieran’s got the pace he used to have. He looks to have chronic problems with hamstrings,’’ he said. ‘‘If he’s ever going to get his career right, you’d think this is the last throw. But he’s a very good footballer. He’s tough.
‘‘If he stands up and plays the majority of the season, that’s a great thing because they’ve been lacking direction.’’