Hasler keen on Foran at Manly

Des Hasler wasn’t completely disconnected from rugby league during his year out of the game – he has been working closely with one of his favourite players and people, Kieran Foran.

One of the toughest things for Hasler to swallow when he was sacked by the Bulldogs was that he didn’t get to work with Foran any more. Hasler worked hard to bring him to Canterbury.

Those who know Hasler well say he has made Foran’s football career a project, but obviously that has to stop now that he is Manly coach – unless he can bring him to the Sea Eagles. And that’s something Hasler’s confidantes say he wants to make happen.

Hasler and the Sea Eagles will publicly deny the prospect of luring Foran back to the northern beaches. Privately, it’s a different story.

The issue is Manly’s ugly salary cap situation.

But the Dogs are also in a bind and made subtle efforts to offload Foran last year after an injury-plagued season.

There was constant chatter that the Bulldogs wanted to retire Foran on medical grounds and work out a payment based on a pre-existing injury.

That didn’t wash with anyone. Foran is taking up about A$1 million (NZ$1.08M) of the Bulldogs cap next season and Canterbury would surely pay a whack of his wage to move him on. But Manly will need to make space to make it happen.

The Foran move would be a tough one to negotiate but, as this week proved, anything is possible in rugby league. And at the very worst, there is intent from Hasler to make it happen.

Foran went from poster boy to rehabilitation in the blink of an eye. He left the mother of his two children and has now remarried.

There were some serious concerns about his off-field behaviour, but Hasler has told Manly officials he has no doubts about the way Foran is living his life.

One of the reasons Manly were keen to sign Hasler is players want to play for him. Foran fits into that category.

Foran is also great mates with Daly Cherry-evans. DCE has publicly stood by Foran through some of his toughest days.

How did the Hasler deal get done? There has been plenty of talk that it came out of a fan forum where there was a drive to bring the Manly great back into the fold.

The truth came from Manly owner Scott Penn, who said it was Hasler who instigated the thawing of ice between the pair.