The oldest playmaker to don the Titans colours since Mat Rogers, marquee recruit Kieran Foran could be the missing link to Justin Holbrook’s Gold Coast side brimming with future stars.
Should the Kiwi international take to the field in the Titans' season opener against Wests Tigers on March 5, Foran will be two months older than Scott Prince when he played his final game for the Titans on September 1, 2012.
But, after the Titans slumped to a disappointing 13th placed finish this year, the 32-year-old's arrival is set to bring a new level of experience to the halves in 2023.
“I think that’s why I’ve been brought here… I’ve played NRL for 14 seasons or so now so I’ve got a fair bit of experience under my belt,” he said.
“It’s exciting that they are so young… and yes, they’ve learnt some hard lessons along the way as you do when you’re starting out, but they’re all coming into a really good phase of their careers where they can start to dominate on a weekly basis and learn what it’s all about.
“I’m just really excited to get in amongst it and hopefully I can add some experience to the group.”
Despite just returning home from New Zealand’s World Cup campaign in England, the 262-game veteran jumped straight into pre-season training at Cbus Super Stadium this week to meet his new teammates.
Foran winds back the clock
“I couldn’t stay away for too long. I’ve only just come back from the UK but I jumped into a few skills just to see what the boys were doing,” he said.
“Once you get to my age you probably don’t want to have too long off and I just wanted to keep the body ticking over and keep myself in reasonable nick throughout the off-season.
“I was also really excited to meet all the lads and get to know everyone, that way I can hit the ground running in the new year."
The Kiwi international said he’s ready to play the mentor role for Titans’ emerging playmakers Toby Sexton, Tanah Boyd and AJ Brimson, just like the veteran Sea Eagles did for him during his own rookie years.
The premiership-winning five-eighth said it was the likes of Jamie Lyon, Anthony Watmough, Steve Matai and the Stewart brothers who all played a big role in his development after bursting onto the NRL scene in 2009.
“I was really fortunate that when I came into first grade at Manly as a young guy I had lots of NRL experience around me,” he said.
“A team stacked full of guys who had played in grand finals and won premierships certainly made my transition into the NRL a lot easier.
Season shapers: Titans
“It helps when you’ve got those senior players around you – calling the shots and leading you around.
“If I can pass on those teachings to these young guys that are just starting out their NRL careers along with a number of guys that are in their fourth or fifth season, hopefully, we can combine that and really nail down our roles and have a successful year.”
After an injury-plagued three seasons at the Bulldogs, where Foran played just 40 games, it was High Performance Manager Cameron Ferguson that helped him rebuild his form after returning to Manly.
With Ferguson also moving to the Gold Coast at the end of 2022, Foran has complete confidence the Titans can reach new heights in 2023.
“He doesn’t miss you that’s for sure but he’s one of the best high performance guys I’ve ever worked with throughout my career and I think the guys are seeing first-hand just what he’s capable of achieving,” Foran said.
“From all reports, he’s made it incredibly tough and challenging but it’s rewarding at the end of the day.
“You’re going to be pushed to the limit and you’re going to go to some dark places out on the training field and in the gym but it’s all for a good cause.
"At the end of the day, you want to be in the best physical condition we can be in come Round 1 and I’ve got no doubt we’ll be there.”
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