Foran ‘hasn’t clocked out yet’
Coach Steve Kearney has defended Kieran Foran against accusations he isn’t 100 per cent focused on the Warriors.
Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott said this week he didn’t think Foran had played well recently because he was already thinking about the Bulldogs, who he will join next year.
However, Kearney was impressed with the implication.
‘‘There’s been stages where everyone hasn’t been at their best and to single out Kieran is pretty ordinary,’’ he said.
‘‘Has he been at his best? Absolutely not. But he’s not by himself there, so I don’t think he’s clocked out early.
‘‘He did some OK things early in the contest and I’m not going to be really critical because it’s a team performance. My expectation is you will see a better performance this week.’’
While Foran was only in his second game back from a quad injury, the Kiwis playmaker had an uncharacteristically quiet performance during last week’s game against the Panthers as the Warriors slumped to their secondstraight defeat.
It was by no means a terrible display but he failed to take control when halves partner Shaun Johnson left the field with a knee injury. With Johnson ruled out up to eight weeks, much of the burden will fall on Foran to step up in his absence.
Once again Kearney was forced to address individual lapses that cost the Warriors victory and has left them in a virtual must-win situation not heading into Saturday’s daunting trip to Townsville.
It’s been a similar story following most defeats this year but Kearney insisted his patience was not wearing thin.
Yet while he has to be prepared to give some leeway to the inexperienced players, time is cleary running out for the message to sink in.
‘‘In the toughest environment there is, when you do makes mistakes you pay a pretty hefty price and that’s the reason why I’ll keep showing them and giving them the information and keep demanding that’s what’s expected of them,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘If it doesn’t sink in then I’ll have to make a couple of decisions but my job is to make sure that I continue to help them get better.’’