Foran cleared to play for Warriors
PHOTOSPORT
‘ It’s been a really tough road for me.’ KIERAN FORAN
A grateful Kieran Foran is ready to ‘‘kick-start’’ his career again after receiving clearance from the NRL to play for the Warriors.
Warriors chief executive Jim Doyle confirmed that Foran had passed his final psychological assessment by the NRL’s integrity unit, meaning the Kiwis playmaker is free to play for the club from Friday’s clash against the Bulldogs in Dunedin.
That, however, depends on how his shoulder injury progresses and Foran admitted he is more likely to take the field in round four or five.
‘‘It’s a great relief,’’ Foran said. ‘‘It’s been a long process. I was happy to co-operate fully with the integrity unit and let them go through their process. I’m grateful and happy that I am now able to concentrate on the 2017 season.
‘‘I’m just really happy and grateful to be in a position where I get to kick-start my career again. It’s been a really tough road for me, I owe lot of people lot of thank yous. I’ve had great support here back in New Zealand, from family, close friends and fans at Warriors. It’s been overwhelming. Hopefully now I can repay their faith with playing some really good footy.’’
Doyle was always confident Foran would get the green light to resume his career but the announcement signals the end of a tumultuous period in the 26-year-old’s life.
Foran walked away from a lucrative deal with Parramatta midway through last season to address personal issues, which saw him enter a Brisbane rehabilitation clinic, while he also came under scrutiny over his ties with Australian gambler Eddie Hayson.
Doyle said Foran met the NRL’s integrity unit for 61⁄ hours over two meetings, giving bank statements for the last nine months and providing access to his betting accounts.
His return has polarised opinion in Australia, particularly after the husband of late journalist Rebecca Wilson revealed details of Foran’s abusive texts and a phone call he allegedly made to his wife last year.
While not referring to any single incident, Doyle said Foran had ‘‘regrets’’ over how he had acted in the past.
‘‘Kieran will be the first to admit over that time when he wasn’t in a very good mental state he may have caused some angst for some people, but he’s just focusing on the future and getting back,’’ Doyle.
Foran has only signed a oneyear deal with the Warriors but he dismissed reports linking him move a move to the Brisbane Broncos.
‘‘It’s purely speculation,’’ said Foran. ‘‘Ever since I came to New Zealand it has been doing one thing at a time, ticking one box at a time. First and foremost it was about coming here and getting my shoulder right, getting registered and now I want to get back on the field. That is my only priority at the moment and I won’t be dealing with my future until well and truly down the track.’’
As for the shoulder injury which ended his season at the Eels last May, Foran said he faced a big couple of weeks as he looked to prove his fitness.
‘‘I’m hopeful of playing in the next couple of weeks. It probably won’t be round three but if it is not round three it will be one of the weeks very soon after that.’’