STAR Canterbury recruit Kieran Foran is on track to start the season at five-eighth after returning to full-contact training.
Bulldogs coach Dean Pay confirmed Foran had overcome a host of injury concerns, which forced him to spend his first month at the club in rehabilitation.
In a huge boost for the blue and whites, the former New Zealand international completed a series of contact drills prior to the Christmas break.
A fit and firing Foran resumed training on Monday and Pay has sights set on playing the ex-Manly, Parramatta and Warriors playmaker in Canterbury’s opening trial against Canberra at the Sunshine Coast on February 17.
“Kieran is going really well,” Pay told The Daily Telegraph.
“He did a bit of opposed work before the break and it was good for him to get out there with the boys.
“I think he was over the rehab group and he enjoyed every minute of it. It was good signs, so now we just need to keep progressing with it.”
Pay is particularly pleased to see a smile on Foran’s face.
The premiership-winning half has privately battled for a number of years now, dating back to 2016 when Parramatta granted him indefinite leave of absence to deal with a range of personal issues.
The 27-year-old had been struggling with a relationship breakdown. He was admitted to St Vincent’s hospital after overdosing on prescription medication before being granted leave.
It’s been a tough few years for the Kiwi international. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
27?... he looks good for 40.