Exclusive: Kieran Foran’s letter to Eels teammates that left changing room in silence
AT 6.31pm last Friday night, the hands of Parramatta coach Brad Arthur began shaking.
Seated in front of him, inside a private room adjacent to the Eels dressing room at ground level of ANZ Stadium, were the faces of 17 Parramatta players.
Arthur took a deep breath and holding the crisp A4 piece of paper in his trembling hand, he began to speak. Only one, maybe two words, were audible.
Too emotional to read the opening sentence, Arthur, with pain in his heavy eyes as a result of just four hours sleep in three days, handed the confronting page-long letter to assistant coach Steve Murphy.
Murphy, the Eels backs coach, is one of the most popular figures at Parramatta. A dedicated team-man and outstanding conduit to the players for Arthur, Murphy is always up-beat, always looking for the positives in life.
But just over an hour before kick-off against Canterbury, Murphy couldn’t have been more serious
Had Murphy been asked, or given warning from Arthur that he was about to read the handwritten letter Kieran Foran had penned earlier that morning to the Eels playing squad, he probably would’ve declined.
But he pushed through it.
“I’m not sure if I would be able to wake up each day, to go to training, if it wasn’t for you boys,’’ Foran wrote.
“I’ve played in a lot of great teams, but I haven’t played in a group as tight this before.’’
You could hear a pin drop. Murphy took a breath.
“I love you guys. You have held me together. Coming to training, to be with you boys, is the reason I wake up each morning.
“Thank you for your support. I know I’ve let you down, but rest assured I can’t wait to get back and when I do I’ll be ready to go.’’
Foran had penned the letter after Arthur had asked if his halfback would feel comfortable providing his Parramatta teammates with an update on his wellbeing.
The coach, worried about the disgusting stories and rumours that his players may have seen on social media or heard about Foran, just wanted them to know that their skipper was well and in good hands.
So instead of a standard Gen-Y text message, Snapchat post or email, Foran sat down with a biro and began writing.
Foran’s willingness to put his affection down into words and explain his level of safety and comfort of which he shares with his teammates is a remarkable insight into his own state of mind and maturity.
It also illustrates the incredible bond among the players of which has been formed under Arthur, amid a maelstrom of drama.
And while the letter left senior Parramatta officials and players stunned, in particularly why Foran needed to apologise when he has nothing to apologise for, it also left them bursting with pride that not only is the 25-year-old part of their club, but he’s seeking the professional help that he needs.
After the Eels fighting 20-12 win over Canterbury, Foran’s regular halves partner Corey Norman gave a small grab on the impact of the letter.
“It was very touching,’’ Norman said.
What the Eels man-of-the-match didn’t say was what Foran’s final few words of the letter said.
“I’ll be smiling when you win tonight.’’
