League: Kieran Foran ready for Parramatta Eels return

Kieran Foran is tackled by Josh Hoffman. Photo / Photosport

When Kieran Foran signed a four-year NRL deal with Parramatta two years ago, Eels legend Peter Sterling labelled it the "most important signing" in the club's history.

Between Sterling's retirement in 1992 and Foran's arrival in 2016, the Eels had churned through 34 halfbacks as they desperately try to find their next premiership winner.

But less than two years on from Sterling's proclamation, the man meant to steady Parramatta's ship will aim to sink it for the second time in as many months on Friday night.

Foran's return to face Parramatta for the 13th-placed Warriors in Sydney has been overshadowed by the State of Origin opener.

But this has the makings of one of the most anticipated returns of the 2017 season following Foran's departure citing personal reasons last year.

The last time the Eels faced the Warriors - in Auckland in round six - Foran was the match-winner.

He set up two tries and as many linebreaks in arguably his best performance of the season.

Eels coach Brad Arthur knows Foran better than most, having worked with at Manly before luring him to Parramatta.

He will use all of that experience to help his men shut down Foran at ANZ Stadium.

"He played really well last time we played them and he was probably the difference in the game," Arthur said.

"We need to make sure we're good at our defence on the right-hand side."

Arthur also has halves development of his own to worry about as his season hangs at 6-6.

Foran's long-term replacement has finally arrived in the form of Mitchell Moses, who had a hand in two tries against South Sydney last Friday in his second game for the Eels.

And while Arthur suggested the pre-match cramming to get Moses up to speed was over, there was still a fair way to go before he was happy with the Eels' attack.

"There's going to be natural progression on improvement with him in the team, and our players getting used to how he plays," Arthur said.

Moses this week laughed when he saaid he hoped he could be the one to break the Eels' No.7 curse.

But Arthur wasn't so keen on the talk.

"I think we look into it way too much. He's just got to go out there and be Mitchell Moses," Arthur said.

-AAP