Auckland ‘refreshing’ for Foran
Kieran Foran says he’s been able to find himself again back in Auckland after a tumultuous year in Sydney.
The Kiwis five-eighth spoke yesterday for the first time since his life went off the rails while at the Eels last year and although there were plenty of subjects he didn’t want to discuss, he said it’s been good for him to get away from the pressures of being a high-profile footy player in Sydney.
‘‘It’s been refreshing,’’ said Foran, who left Auckland when still at primary school.
‘‘I didn’t think it would happen. I’d been in Sydney for so long I never envisaged myself coming back to live in Auckland.
‘‘But as circumstances had it, it presented an opportunity. Although it’s been difficult being away from my two young kids back in Sydney, it’s what I needed.
‘‘I’ve really enjoyed the pace of Auckland again, it’s not as big as Sydney. It’s a bit more slow-paced. I’ve got a lot of extended family and it’s been nice to get back to my roots and what made me happy as a kid, just finding myself again.’’
Foran, 26, was supposed to make his Warriors debut against the Dragons last weekend but had to pull out just minutes before the game was about to begin, with a hamstring strain.
He’s been named to start in Sunday’s fixture against the Titans at Mt Smart Stadium, but said it won’t be until Saturday when he knows if he’s over his minor injury.
‘‘I’m going to give myself every chance, right up to the captain’s run,’’ he said. ‘‘I felt a twinge up high on the hamstring in the warmup before the game, so the smart decision was not to play.
‘‘I felt like I would have done more damage to it and be out for several weeks, so I made the call with the coaches not to play and to try to get myself right for this game.’’
The Warriors have lost their last three games and could certainly do with a player of Foran’s quality in their side, but he has cautioned Warriors fans not to expect miracles.
‘‘I just want to find my feet again,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m not coming out to try and set the world on fire.
‘‘I want to get back to where I was, but it will take time, I’ve had a few injuries and spent a while on the sidelines.
‘‘It’ll take time to find that continuity again, but I’m really enjoying just being here with the players and training.’’
While there was no notification ahead of his press conference that any subjects were off limits, Foran appeared to have been well prepared on how to deal with the tough questions about his personal life.
‘‘I’m not looking back, I’m not focussed on what’s happened in the past 10 months,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s all about moving forward. There have been some difficult times and but I have gotten through it.
‘‘I’ve had a great support network around me here in New Zealand. I’ve got plenty of help and done plenty of work.
‘‘There are still areas I’m working on, but at the moment I’m really happy with where I am.’’