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As Canterbury officials prepare to inform members about their horrendous salary cap predicament for 2019, coach Dean Pay declared $3 million playmaker Kieran Foran would survive the rigours of this season and improve again next year.
Not for the first time this season Foran hobbled in back play and looked in pain during the dying moments of the Bulldogs' defeat to Brisbane last Friday after he picked up a fresh knock to his knee.
The Bulldogs big-money recruit admitted last month he had struggled with a bulging disc from the moment he entered first grade in 2009, as well as hamstring issues.
“Sometimes when I get out of bed I have to hobble to the bathroom,'' Foran said at the time.
Foran's problems come as Canterbury continue to confront a salary cap nightmare.
The Morris twins, Josh and Brett, have already conceded this year will be their last at Belmore as a result.
It is a mess Pay and the current board have inherited but are determined to work through.
Officials are expected to address some of the issues with members at a forum next week.
Pay said the cap drama had not proven a distraction with the playing group, who need a win on Friday against bitter western Sydney rivals - and one of Foran's former clubs - Parramatta.
As for Foran's physical fitness Pay said he would benefit from playing every week after a dreaded run with injuries before he arrived at Belmore.
"Foz has a few niggles here and there but he's no worse than the others,'' Pay told Fairfax Media on Tuesday night.
"It's been a while since he's put this many games together.
"He's got a knee issue there, which we're managing. He got a bang on it about a month ago.
"We worked hard on him and he's worked hard on himself. I think if he can get through this year, and get a full pre-season under his belt, he'll be better again next year.''
Foran stayed down for a brief moment in back play against North Queensland a few weeks ago before he soldiered on, and did likewise last Friday at Suncorp Stadium.
"He doesn't know how to play any other way," Pay said. "He's a tough kid and that's why I think he'll get through the year, have a good break, have a good pre-season and be a lot stronger again in 2019.
"All we can control is what we're doing here now. Next year's roster will be different to what it is this year.
"My job is to get the best out of this year, put the club first and come out the other side where we can get some money back and start to go forward again.''
Canterbury surrendered a lead against Penrith last Friday week, then watched Brisbane slot a penalty goal in the final minute to lose by two points in round nine.
Moses Mbye was sin-binned for making contact with Darius Boyd as he chased after a kick to try and score, which was one of the contentious calls that sparked Pay's post-match blow-up and subsequent $25,000 fine.
Mbye on Tuesday told Fairfax Media the referees ''probably got it right'' when he made minimal contact with Boyd.
Mbye said of Foran: "Everyone knows how tough he is. He doesn't leave anything out there and that's all you can ask from a player, especially a peer.
"He does overtime on his recovery to get right for the weekend. I'm sure he'll leave it all out there again on Friday.
Renouf To'omaga will make his debut off the bench for Clay Priest, who was rushed back too soon from an ankle injury, Pay said.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ca...-upbeat-about-sore-foran-20180508-p4zdzb.html
Not for the first time this season Foran hobbled in back play and looked in pain during the dying moments of the Bulldogs' defeat to Brisbane last Friday after he picked up a fresh knock to his knee.
The Bulldogs big-money recruit admitted last month he had struggled with a bulging disc from the moment he entered first grade in 2009, as well as hamstring issues.
“Sometimes when I get out of bed I have to hobble to the bathroom,'' Foran said at the time.
Foran's problems come as Canterbury continue to confront a salary cap nightmare.
The Morris twins, Josh and Brett, have already conceded this year will be their last at Belmore as a result.
It is a mess Pay and the current board have inherited but are determined to work through.
Officials are expected to address some of the issues with members at a forum next week.
Pay said the cap drama had not proven a distraction with the playing group, who need a win on Friday against bitter western Sydney rivals - and one of Foran's former clubs - Parramatta.
As for Foran's physical fitness Pay said he would benefit from playing every week after a dreaded run with injuries before he arrived at Belmore.
"Foz has a few niggles here and there but he's no worse than the others,'' Pay told Fairfax Media on Tuesday night.
"It's been a while since he's put this many games together.
"He's got a knee issue there, which we're managing. He got a bang on it about a month ago.
"We worked hard on him and he's worked hard on himself. I think if he can get through this year, and get a full pre-season under his belt, he'll be better again next year.''
Foran stayed down for a brief moment in back play against North Queensland a few weeks ago before he soldiered on, and did likewise last Friday at Suncorp Stadium.
"He doesn't know how to play any other way," Pay said. "He's a tough kid and that's why I think he'll get through the year, have a good break, have a good pre-season and be a lot stronger again in 2019.
"All we can control is what we're doing here now. Next year's roster will be different to what it is this year.
"My job is to get the best out of this year, put the club first and come out the other side where we can get some money back and start to go forward again.''
Canterbury surrendered a lead against Penrith last Friday week, then watched Brisbane slot a penalty goal in the final minute to lose by two points in round nine.
Moses Mbye was sin-binned for making contact with Darius Boyd as he chased after a kick to try and score, which was one of the contentious calls that sparked Pay's post-match blow-up and subsequent $25,000 fine.
Mbye on Tuesday told Fairfax Media the referees ''probably got it right'' when he made minimal contact with Boyd.
Mbye said of Foran: "Everyone knows how tough he is. He doesn't leave anything out there and that's all you can ask from a player, especially a peer.
"He does overtime on his recovery to get right for the weekend. I'm sure he'll leave it all out there again on Friday.
Renouf To'omaga will make his debut off the bench for Clay Priest, who was rushed back too soon from an ankle injury, Pay said.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ca...-upbeat-about-sore-foran-20180508-p4zdzb.html
