Belief. Connection. Honesty.
Not the words of a marriage counsellor. Just a Kieran Foran press conference after signing a three-year deal as Manly’s head coach seven months after retiring as a player and three months since stepping in as interim boss following the sacking of Anthony Seibold.
Not since John “Bomber” Peard 46 years ago has a player traded the boots for a clipboard so quickly, according to renowned statistician David Middleton.
Like 35-year-old Foran, Peard had his share of injuries before he retired following Parramatta’s 1979 semi-final loss to St George. Just 204 days later, he was coaching the Eels.
Foran, who had a 208-day break between roles (although he was already an assistant at Manly), joins the likes of Craig Young, Greg Pierce and John O’Neill in shifting from player to coach in such rapid time, and Foran’s success at the club so far – Manly have won seven of their past nine games – is as good a proof as any.
Age is just a number.
“It’s no doubt I’m young stepping into this role, but I see it as a real positive,” Kieran said on Wednesday.
“I think it certainly allows me to get on the level of the playing group. I can connect with them outside of footy, and hopefully, they feel really comfortable in talking to me about all things, coaching.
“One of the big things I believe coaching is built on is connection and making sure that your players feel that sense of belonging, and [being comfortable] in you as a person.”
Foran’s early success, as much as anything, comes down to the simplest of rugby league philosophies – especially in the eyes of Wayne Bennett.
The game’s longest-serving coach is more than twice Foran’s age, and had already been coaching at the top level for more than a decade by the time Foran was born.
“He’s just made them happy,” Bennett said ahead of South Sydney’s trip to Brookvale, at “Foz Pines Park”, the iconic suburban ground getting a rebranding for one night only.
“It’s as simple as that. They’re in a good place, they’re enjoying playing together and defending together, and obviously, they’re playing well together. That’s what he’s brought.”
Foran’s not your typical rugby league coach, with his sincere and often heartfelt interviews. That authenticity has repeatedly been cited by players as a key shift for the Sea Eagles since Foran took over.
And it certainly helps that not too long ago Foran was practising what he now preaches. But taking charge at 35, just six months older than senior prop Siua Taukeiaho, also presents Foran with a challenge faced by the likes of Benji Marshall, Ricky Stuart, Brad Fittler and Nathan Brown in the NRL era.
Many of Manly’s current crop – Tom and Jake Trboejvic, Reuben Garrick, Jason Saab, Haumole Olakau’atu and Taniela Paseka – played alongside Foran when he was the club’s five-eighth in 2021 and 2022. Naturally though, he doesn’t see it as a barrier to having the necessary, and tough, conversations.
“I haven’t [found] any particular parts challenging in regards to the fact that I am close in age to them,” Foran said.
“I think when I was a player, I certainly demanded a lot of the players around me and my teammates, as I did of myself, and I think that probably allows me to have that little breaking point. Even though I am close in age to some of these guys, my honesty and my expectation is no different to when I played to how I am now as a coach.
“And one thing I hope that my players do feel is they feel that everything that comes from me is authentic. They know where they stand, they know how I feel about them, and that I’ll give them really honest and open feedback around their game and their standards, and I’m really hopeful that they certainly feel that way.”
It is easy to forget the pain Manly were feeling three months ago when Foran took over – now that the coach and club bosses are talking finals football and premiership contention this year.
Enjoy it while it lasts, says Bennett. Even if he “can’t remember” his own early days.
“The journey’s just started for him and there are lots of challenges in front of him,” Bennett said. “We’ll know in four or five years time how good he’s going to be, what he’s going to do and not do.
“Right now he’s in a good place, but that’ll change – [the nature of coaching] will challenge him a lot more than it is right now. Not everyone can coach [NRL] … but we’ll know in four or five years’ time we’re it’s all at with him.”
