Bulldogs marvel at Foran's stunning recovery ahead of season return

Bulldogs teammates have again been astonished by the recuperative powers of Kieran Foran as the star playmaker edges closer to a stunning comeback in the May 31 clash with Manly.

The Kiwi international suffered a shoulder injury in last November's Test against Great Britain that was so severe Canterbury officials wanted an overhaul of the NRL's salary cap compensation rules for representative players.

After undergoing a shoulder reconstruction and surgery on his rotator cuff, Foran was expected to miss at least nine months and the Bulldogs believed the maximum $350,000 discount for players injured on representative duty was insufficient.

However, Foran may now only miss two Telstra Premiership matches as prop Dylan Napa declared him almost certain to line up against former mentor Des Hasler's Sea Eagles when the competition resumes next week.

"I expect him to be playing," Napa said. "He has been training really well so he should be playing. That is what I am expecting.

"I haven't known him for too long but he said to me this is mentally the best he has felt and the best physically he has felt. They are two pretty big boxes to tick.

"We are really excited for him. He has worked really hard to get to where he is, so it will be good to get him on the field."

A fit Foran will be a massive boost for Canterbury, who have been relying on promising but inexperienced halves in Lachlan Lewis and Brandon Wakeham.

He has been defending on the left edge alongside second-rower Dean Britt and winger Nick Meaney said Foran's presence lifted the confidence of the entire side.

"Having him back will be massive not only on the field but off the field," Meaney said. "We have got young halves and when he is back he will definitely help our team. We are all excited to be around him."

While no-one anticipated Foran being back so soon, Meaney said he made a quicker-than-expected recovery last year from an ankle injury that usually requires a three-month recovery.

"I remember when he did his ankle last year, he suffered a syndesmosis [injury] in the Tigers game and I think he came back after five or six weeks," Meaney said.

"For most people that wouldn't be possible. He must deal with pain a lot differently to other people with how he can come back from injury so quick and feel 100 per cent is crazy."

The return of Foran has been offset by the loss of winger Marcelo Montoya for up to three months with a hamstring tear as he attempted to return from a knee injury.

Off-season recruit Joe Stimson has been ruled out for the season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction while fellow second-rower Corey Harawira-Naera was sacked over a pre-season incident in Port Macquarie.

Napa said the Bulldogs had forward depth and he was also unfazed by the return to one referee and introduction of the "six again" rule rather than awarding of a penalty for ruck infringements.

"Players have adapted to new rules every year and when the wrestle came in we adapted, and the rules changed again. It's just how it goes," Napa said.

"It is the evolution of the game of rugby league. I have loved it since I was a kid and I will love it when I finish."