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Home / Northern Advocate

Andrew Johnsen: Foran fiasco didn't change the Warriors

By Andrew Johnsen
Northern Advocate·
21 Apr, 2017 07:14 PM3 mins to read

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Kieran Foran has reportedly signed with the Canterbury Bulldogs after just three matches, but he's smart to go. Photo/Photosport.nz

Kieran Foran has reportedly signed with the Canterbury Bulldogs after just three matches, but he's smart to go. Photo/Photosport.nz

Kieran Foran, we hardly knew ye!

The Warriors standoff has reportedly signed a three-year deal with the Canterbury Bulldogs starting next season.

Fans are lamenting the loss as if he played more than three matches for the club. Well he didn't.

He made the right choice to leave as he wants to be closer to his two children in Sydney. That's a given.

Foran's stay has been one of much conjecture and little substance. While we know how brilliant he is on the field, he only made the side slightly better.

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Three games is a tiny sample size but that's all we have so far. He didn't help in the second half when Canberra finally warmed up. He didn't solve any defensive issues and he wasn't helping the biggest problem of all - go-forward.

Foran will no doubt be a big asset to the Bulldogs but fans of the Warriors shouldn't lament the loss - they weren't making a premiership push with or without him. They probably won't even make the top eight.

In that regard the 2011 NRL Premiership winner is wise to leave.

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The Warriors are denying he has signed anything but even if this deal isn't happening, it's fair to say he won't be back in one of the Warriors' 1000 different jerseys in 2018.

Foran isn't the only big-name Warrior reportedly on the move which is worrying for the under-performing franchise.

Ben Matulino is said to be heading to the Wests Tigers to reunite with former Warriors coach Ivan Cleary (the fact he left is indicative of what a train wreck the Warriors are).

Mercurial halfback Shaun Johnson's name has been thrown up by multiple clubs.

If Johnson wants to win an NRL title, he needs to go. He isn't going to win one here but if he goes somewhere that needs a halfback (*cough* Melbourne Storm *cough*) he could grab some silverware.

The onus on the club's performance is on both players and those making decisions on who to sign.

Only Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's signature is helping with go-forward. Isaac Luke is showing glimpses of his Rabbitohs' form but not enough for a player of his quality.

Matulino and the rest of the forwards bar Simon Mannering and Ryan Hoffman have been average at best.

Even Foran and Johnson can't save you if you can't get out of your own half.

If Foran's signing was good for one thing it was showing the glaring weaknesses in the Warriors' game.

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They barely topple the poor teams and they don't come close to the good ones.

Despite what the public likes to do, the coaching hasn't been the issue at the Warriors. If it had been, the Warriors would have at least made the top eight in the four seasons.

Stephen Kearney is a great coach, much like Cleary, and going on how the club treats their leaders he'll be gone in a year or two.

Come on ownership, take some pride in the club. There are prodigiously talented players already here (think Tuivasa-Sheck, Johnson, Luke) but they need help.

They need a strong pack, not filled with big names, but with players willing to do the dirty work, chew up metres and make tackles.

But if flash is all you want, don't be surprised when players leave for more important things than a few highlight plays on The Crowd Goes Wild.

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