As he prepares to run out for the final time with the Titans, Kieran Foran remains opens to the prospect of one more international campaign if the Kiwis come calling.
Since he made a call to close the curtain on the NRL in July, Foran has shared how his times in the black jersey has provided some of his major career highlights.
This year, the idea of facing off against emerging powerhouses Tonga and Samoa on home soil has the champion half considering holding on to his boots … for a few more games.
“If the opportunity presents itself and they feel I can really add value in that side, then, I'll jump at it,” Foran said.
“Some of the best moments of my career have been playing for the Kiwis and if I was given an opportunity to do that one last time, I would fully immerse myself in it and go after it like no other, because I would have nothing to leave in the tank.
“(Winning the Pacific Championships final in 2023) was phenomenal, I dreamt of winning a game like that against the Kangaroos as a kid.
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“People forget when I first came into that international space, I was on the receiving end of quite a number of heavy losses against the Kangaroos and we really struggled to be dominant over them.
“It's been a battle ever since I came into that space, but it's been something I've been really determined to help build.
“The body's feeling good enough to certainly squeeze out a few more games … but we'll just wait and see how the back-end of the season goes.
“I'm sure if Stacey needs me, he'll reach out.”
While Foran’s retirement will leave a hole in the playing squad at the Titans, his influence will remain, with in the football department staff.
Captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has stated he would like Foran to remain involved in the squad’s leadership meetings, and an obvious area where the 2011 premiership winner could add experience is continuing to mentor the team’s halves.
“They're elite players, they possess a level of natural ability that I could only dream of,” Foran said.
“There's part of you that just wants to harness that and encourage that level of natural instinct they've got, and then there's also a part that wants to develop the other intricate, manufactured areas that can improve their game overall from a halves point of view.
“It's a balance between encouraging them to play that style of footy they've both got in spades, but also develop the learning around game management.
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“They've grown in spades throughout this year, and I think will only continue to grow.
“Our game's evolved with the rule changes that you don't have to be the traditional halfback where you manage sets, get teams around the park and just focus on where you end sets and communicate.
“I think the game now is really supportive of those halves, of their creativity and that free-flowing footy; the rule changes have changed that part of our game.
“That's why I don't think it's an issue having guys like JC and AJ in the halves.
“It only enhances your game and if you allow them to just play footy; but help them understand those little intricate parts of being a half, then they can be elite.”
The club’s Ken Stephen Medal nominee for 2025, Foran will also be kept busy with the club away from the football, having found a renewed energy giving back to the community, especially in the areas of mental health awareness – something deeply personal for him – and the club’s program.
Foran is an ambassador for Top Blokes Ambassador who support mental health prevention and early intervention initiatives like Logan’s Legacy, which was established to help honour the memory of his stepson Logan, who took his own life.
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“So passionate about helping the club,” Foran said.
“[General Manager of Community] Renee [Cohen] and her team, the work that they do in Leagueability is quite incredible.
“It touches me, it touches my heart, and they encourage me to help give back in that space.
“The mental health work is obviously something that's very close to me through my own journey, and then also the death of Logan.
“It's been something that I'll continue to work in and educate and help people through dark times and through struggling times in their life, just to be a sounding board.
“Trying to encourage people in that space is something that I'm pretty passionate about.
“There's nothing that scares me (to talk about). There's nothing that I haven't heard before or haven't been through.
“I think there's a level of confidence and comfortability there when I am talking to people in that mental health space that they know they can trust me.
“They know that I've lived it, I've been there, I've come out the other side of it, and I’ve got some lessons and some really good points to sort of improve their life.
“And that's all I try and do.”
Saturday's match against Wests Tigers will also be the last ride for Foran with coach Des Hasler, the man who handed him his NRL debut in 2009 at Manly.
“He's just been such a pivotal person in my whole career, from a young guy leaving high school and to coming into that NRL world, Des was my first ever coach, he gave me my NRL debut.
“He was someone I absolutely idolised and looked up to as a young man.
“He had an instrumental impact on shaping me as a human being and as a footy player.
“He's taught me a lot about life and the journey that you go on through it, so he's been a wonderful help.
“I hope he's gotten something out of coaching me as well.”
Match: Titans v Wests Tigers
Round 27 -
home Team
Titans
17th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
11th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
