League: Kieran Foran mentally ready to put his body on the line

Kieran Foran during the Round 4 NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Photo / AAP

Kieran Foran has no thoughts of self preservation.

Despite years of knocks taking their toll on the Canterbury halfback's body, and at times questioning whether injuries would end his NRL career, Foran is refusing to change the way he plays.

Ever since he came into grade with Manly, the New Zealand playmaker has dug deep into the line and more often than not taken a whack for his troubles.

It's hard not to draw a line between his lack of instinct to protect his body and the hamstring, back and shoulder problems which have plagued him the past several years.

But Foran, 27, says he only knows how to play one way and will continue to take the knocks that come with it.

"It's something I don't really think about," Foran said. "I've always liked to play deep into the line and try and give my outside runners as much space as possible and if that means taking a bigger knock than normal, than I'm prepared to take it."

After playing just 26 games for Parramatta and the Warriors during the past two seasons because of problems with his body, Foran says he's confident of staying injury free for the next several years.

When he showed up to Canterbury pre-season training last year, a month ahead of schedule, to undergo intensive rehab, his body was hanging by a thread.

"When I came in before Christmas, I was thinking 'how is this guy going to play rugby league, he's battered and bruised'," Lichaa said.

Foran suggested his injury problems were related to his mind. He went through a well-publicised break up which ultimately led to him ask for a release from Parramatta and join the Warriors to escape the Sydney bubble.

But after finding peace of mind with new partner Karina May, he was hoping his mental demons and injury problems were behind him.

"It's all connected isn't it? If your mind is unsettled and things aren't great there, the body takes a toll, I definitely found that with my back," Foran said.

"I just focused hard on rebuilding the strength around my hips and around my legs. It's all feeling pretty good at the moment."

- AAP