Don't expect Foran to be Canterbury's saviour: Pay

The return of Kieran Foran will fix a lot of woes but coach Dean Pay doesn't want the Test five-eighth viewed as Canterbury's saviour.

Foran had been completing all training sessions as he makes his way back from a shoulder reconstruction following New Zealand's win over Great Britain last November.

But he had a minor setback with a hamstring twinge and then last week his surgeons told him it was too early for a return to the NRL.

Pay is hoping his star five-eighth gets positive news and returns this week.

"He's been doing a lot of work so hopefully he should be right for next week," the coach said after having to endure his side lose 32-6 to the Sea Eagles on Sunday at Central Coast Stadium.

"We need to be better next week. We need to find more patience in getting through our sets because we're not generating any pressure at all,"  Pay said, after surveying the disappointing stats of 43 per cent possession, 41 missed tackles and just one line break.

But he doesn't want Foran to be hailed as the sole key to turning around the Bulldogs' fortunes. He expects the whole team to lift.

"We all need to do a better job than what we're doing - everyone who is involved when we get some good ball," Pay said.

"We seem to be a bit lost, a bit frantic with what we're doing, and that causes errors.

"We'd love to have a little experience out there."

He's been doing a lot of work so hopefully he should be right for next week

Dean Pay on Kieran Foran

Pay gets a large chunk of that with Foran's presence.

"It will lift the players. Just that experience he brings is going to help."

Pay openly admitted the new rule changes announced ahead of the NRL's resumption would be welcomed by a team like the Sea Eagles with Tom Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans and Dylan Walker in their attacking spine.

"The rule changes suit those players. They are quality players – they are all Australian players – and they run their team well," he said.

Manly coach Des Hasler knows the scoring potential of those players along with his big and mobile forward pack led by Jake Trbojevic and hooker Danny Levi.

"There's no doubt about it," he said of Tom Trbojevic.

"He's a class player. But he had plenty of good players, plenty of support around him."

The quicker speed around the ruck dovetails into the football skills of players like Trbojevic.

"It's instinctive isn't it. They [new rules] are designed to see the game played with a bit more instinct and we're getting that," Hasler said.

"I think everyone is getting more football. I'm pretty sure when they do the sums at the end of this round, there's more time with the ball in play.

"That's better for the fan, better for the viewer and better for the broadcaster."