Parramatta-bound Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran didn't want to speak about what appealed to him about a move west, but insisted now his mind was made up he had no intention of changing it despite the option to do so.
"It's a big relief... I'm glad it's all over and now I can concentrate on the year," Foran said, addressing media the day after he informed his teammates at the club's Narrabeen training base.
"I just pulled them all together yesterday (Monday) morning and let them know of my final decision. There was overwhelming support from all the players which was very pleasing.
"They were good, they were really supportive, they all came up and shook my hand, I think everyone understands," he said.
He said it had been extremely tough to have to tell them he was going.
"This is such a great club and I've got so many great mates here. I've been here ever since I was a kid. It's not something that you want to do but at the end of the day I'm glad it's over."
Asked if Manly may be able to use the window between now and Round 13 to try and change his mind, Foran said: "I don't think so – I'll honour the decision I've made and that's the way I see it."
He spoke highly of the way the club had handled the negotiations. "Manly treated it with plenty of respect in my eyes," he said.
With several reports highlighting the presence of former Manly assistant coach Brad Arthur as a major drawcard in luring Foran to Parramatta, Foran said there were "a few factors" bit didn't want to discuss his future club while he's still at Manly. The financial component, however, wasn't a consideration in the final decision.
"That's next year, I don't really want to comment on that, I'm very happy with the coaching staff here, I think 'Tooves' [Manly head coach Geoff Toovey] has done a tremendous job over the last three years... I think the results speak for themselves.
"I wanted to make the decision for myself and my family; this is a really great footy club, it's going to continue to be a winning club and I just think the people that are involved, Tooves and the coaching staff, Dave Penna and Steve Georgalis are doing a really good job of taking this club forward and I've got no doubts we can have a successful year."
Foran was hopeful he could shake off a hamstring injury to rejoin his teammates on the field in the next couple of weeks.
