Another similar article on Foran:
Andrew Johns expertise could tip test Kiwis way
One Australian rugby league icon could inadvertently undermine another's glorious march into retirement after Kieran Foran lauded the influence Andrew Johns has exerted on his burgeoning international career.
Johns and Darren Lockyer were long-standing rivals at State of Origin level and now, as the Kangaroos captain embarks on his last season of representative football, Johns has primed Kiwis halfback Foran to help New Zealand upstage the Queenslander's Anzac test swan song at Skilled Park on Friday night.
Now a freelance coaching consultant, Johns has played an integral role in grooming the Manly five-eighth for his third test appearance - and second as a foil for Kiwis playmaker Benji Marshall.
Johns tutored Foran on a weekly basis during Manly's pre-season; master and apprentice subsequently maintained regular contact as the 20-year-old enhances his status as one of the National Rugby League's potential stars of the future.
"Joey's been an enormous help to my progress this year, he doesn't have to help me but he goes out of his way to improve my game," Foran told NZPA.
"He's helped my overall knowledge of the game and helped me identify what to do in certain situations". what play to put on, and when."
They last brain stormed before Manly's visit to Townsville last weekend - a timely catch-up as Foran encountered Kangaroos halfback Jonathan Thurston for the first time.
A corked thigh limited Foran's game time as the Thurston-inspired North Queensland Cowboys won by two points, but 62 minutes still amounted to a valuable learning experience.
"I got a lot out of that game, watching him trying to control a game of football. It's not until you're out there that you realise what a champion player he is," he said.
Since entering the Kiwis camp on Sunday night Marshall, not Thurston, has been Foran's focus as they try to build a rapport capable of negating two of Queensland -- and Australia's - finest halves.
Foran made his Kiwis debut on the unsuccessful Four Nations trip to the UK and France in 2009 as a centre and made the transition to halfback 12 months ago in Melbourne - a difficult ask after minimal preparation time alongside Marshall.
At Surfers Paradise Foran and Marshall will have four sessions to find the same wave length - and so far progress appears promising because the Sea Eagle's confidence is soaring.
"In the last 12 months he's really matured. You really notice it in his football, the way he guides Manly around the field," Marshall said.
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"He's really comfortable in our environment. When he came in it was hard to dominate, now he can order the guys around.
"We haven't played together a lot like Locky and JT but as soon as we got into camp we were talking about how we're going to operate. I think we've got a good understanding."
With Marshall guaranteed to be a marked man, Foran's role as another point of attack is critical as the Kiwis seek their first Anzac test win since 1998 - and first on Australian soil.
Foran acknowledged that responsibility and was hopeful of reproducing his club form at the highest level.
"We don't want the Aussies loading up on Benji so I've to play my part," he said.
"Everyone can see I'm a natural runner of the footy but I wanted to work on my ability to play-make and I think I've achieved that."
Still, that remains Marshall's core responsibility against the Kangaroos.
"A player of Benji's brilliance". when he needs the ball he's going to get it. From my point of view it's knowing where to be, controlling the middle of the ruck and adding a good kicking game," he said.
Marshall and Foran have their run tomorrow at the test venue though their combination will be of secondary importance compared to the fitness of Adam Blair and Nathan Fien.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4962888/Andrew-Johns-expertise-could-tip-test-Kiwis-way
