NRL: Manly move to secure Foran

Kieran Foran of New Zealand passes the ball during the Four Nations Rugby League match between the Australian Kangaroos and New Zealand Kiwis. Photo / Getty.

Manly have moved quickly to try to stave off the attentions of rival clubs, including the Warriors, by offering multi-million dollar deals for star halves Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans.

The Sea Eagles are hoping to secure the duo's services before Christmas and ensure they remain at Brookvale beyond next season, with both players coming off contract at the end of 2015.

The pair have been linked to offers from rival clubs, with Foran heading the Warriors' wish list for 2016, and both Brisbane and Parramatta chasing Cherry-Evans' signature.
Both players are tipped to command around $1.1 million a season, while Foran could even be worth more.

Manly chairman Scott Penn told Sydney's Daily Telegraph he was confident of finalising new deals sooner rather than later.

"We will be trying to lock them down by the end of the year," Penn said.

"They are both in the Four Nations and it has been a long year so we are more than mindful that they need a break and a rest.

"We will be working with their management while they are off to lock them down, ideally, before the end of this year.

"The club has made a key decision in regards to recruitment and retention.

"These two players are the nucleus of our team moving forward. We want to build a team around them and we will be doing everything we can to retain them."

Foran, currently in Dunedin with the Kiwis preparing for Saturday's Four Nations clash with England, has been identified as a prime target of the Warriors.

The idea of him joining Kiwis No7 Shaun Johnson at club level is a mouth-watering prospect with many believing their combination could propel the Warriors to premiership success.

"He's a player every club would like to have," said Warriors director of football Dean Bell.
"He will be hot property on the market and Manly will also be keen to keep him. But players like him don't come on the market very often and we would be daft not to have a look at him. We will be talking to a number of players but he would be near the top of our list."

On Sunday, a tweet from Warriors co-owner Eric Watson welcoming the signing of Foran sent fans and media on both sides of the Tasman into a spin, before the businessman set the record straight.

"Gt signing for @NZWarriors with Kieran Foran - exciting player. Gt game yday against Samoa Welcome to the Warriors family #WarriorsForever," read the initial tweet.
That was quickly followed by a second tweet from Watson, apologising to fans for raising their hopes.

"I definitely need to lay off the Halloween punch sorry to cause such a stir. Kieran Foran is on our wish list but not signed. Apologies fans," he said.

Foran, who grew up in Auckland and played for the Ellerslie Eagles as a junior, made his NRL debut in 2009 and has since racked up 128 NRL games (30 tries).

The 24-year-old was previously seen as a one-club player until the internal dramas that engulfed Manly this season brought that scenario under question.

Close friends Glenn Stewart (South Sydney) and Anthony Watmough (Parramatta) have departed, but both Brett Stewart and Steve Matai are now expected to remain at the club beyond next season, despite having sought early releases.