Kieran Foran finished off a superb career at the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles by taking home the annual Players’ Player award for season 2022 on Monday night.
The respected five-eighth had only a few days earlier at Homebush taken off his cherished number six jersey for the final time after playing his 196th game for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, a club that he made his first-grade debut for back in 2009.
During two stints at the Sea Eagles from 2009-15 and 2021-22, the proven match winner and fan favourite continued to put his battered, and often bruised, body on the line.
In between there was a premiership victory in 2011, a grand final defeat in 2013, 116 wins, 105 try assists, and 168 club points through 40 tries and four goals.
And then, in his final season before continuing his 262 game career at the Gold Coast Titans in 2023, Foran played all 24 matches to back up his incredible 25 matches for Manly last season.
It’s why 32-year-old Foran was warmly embraced after receiving the award voted on by his team-mates.
“To win Players’ Player at this club means everything,’’ Foran said.
“Every player wants to earn the respect of their peers and the blokes they play with.
“I’m surprised to have won this. I thought there were a number of blokes who probably outperformed me through the year and certainly played consistent footy throughout the whole season.
“I’m pretty surprised…it’s a surreal feeling.
“It has been a phenomenal ride at Manly. This club has shaped me as the man I am today. It’s the people within the four walls of the joint that make it so special.
“It’s a wonderful club, a club that I’ve truly cherished my time at and one that I will certainly miss for sure.”
Foran’s wife, Karina, said she couldn’t be any more ‘prouder’ of her husband.
“As soon as they announced his name, I just went to water,’’ Karina said.
“What you see is who he is. He is a beautiful man on and off the field. There is no one more deserving than Kieran.
“It’s been mixed emotions knowing (his time at Manly) was coming to an end. He has been emotional.
“This club means everything to him. It’s what actually made him who he is. It’s bittersweet.
“I’m so proud of him.”
