Foz farewells Brookie: This one's for the true believers

As he prepares to step onto 4 Pines Park for the last time in Manly colours, Kieran Foran leaves no one in any doubt how much the club's loyal fans and coach Des Hasler have meant to him.

The Kiwi playmaker’s 260th career game comes 13 years after his first, when he launched his career with a try in a 20-14 win over the Raiders at Brookvale Oval.

The Sea Eagles are out to snap a four-game losing streak when they host the Sharks on Saturday before rounding out a disappointing season with away games against the Raiders and Bulldogs.

“It has been a tough month of footy for us but I’m looking to make the most of my last three games in a Manly jersey,” said Foran, who joins the Titans on a two-year deal in 2023.

“I’ve got mixed emotions. I left Manly for the first time back at the end of 2015 and if you asked me a couple of years ago whether I ever thought I’d come back and get the chance to play at Manly I would have said ‘no way’.

“I’ve been unbelievably fortunate and grateful to get the opportunity to come back and get a couple of seasons back at my very first club, the club I love so much, so I’m just taking it all in and it’s been an unreal ride.

“My three seasons at Canterbury [2018-20] were riddled with a lot of big injuries and a lot of people at that time were saying I should look at retiring but I was fortunate to get the opportunity to come back here and get my body right and prove myself again as a footballer.

“The Manly fans have always thrown their support behind me and I have felt every bit of that … I will certainly miss running out onto this oval and being cheered by all of them. I have been very fortunate.”

Having played under Hasler in his first three seasons at Manly and sharing premiership glory in 2011 before reuniting last year, Foran has no doubt the 61-year-old is the man to lead the club into the future.

The coach’s contract runs out at the end of 2023 and despite speculation to the contrary, Foran is adamant Hasler should be given “a job for life”.

“No one is better suited to coach this footy club than Des Hasler. If the club is smart they will hold on to him for as long as he wants to coach,” Foran said.

“He knows what his players need and what this football club needs and he should have a job here for life.

“He always make me feel six-feet taller than what I am and like I could run through a brick wall and I’m sure he has that affect on all the players.”