Kieran Foran could join best mate Mitchell Pearce in Newcastle’s best playmaker pairing since the Johns brothers
James Phelps, The Daily Telegraph
July 31, 2020 7:09pm
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Newcastle has emerged as a shock new home for Kieran Foran after the Bulldogs star knocked backed a cut-priced contract offer from Canterbury.
Expected to stay at Belmore for at least another year after making a successful return from injury, Foran could now hit the open market after his manager asked the club to revise their first offer.
The Bulldogs have already been made aware of interest from the Knights and the West Tigers after details of the one-year-deal offer knock-back were leaked.
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Kieran Foran is attracting plenty of attention from NRL teams.
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It is understood the Bulldogs’ initial offer was a one-year-deal worth less than $400,000.
“The first conversations are always a little more challenging,” Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill said.
“And no doubt we are aware that some clubs will be looking at Kieran after those first conversations. We will continue to talk to Kieran and his agent in the coming weeks.”
The Knights have emerged as the early favourite to snare Foran should the Bulldogs decide not to offer a revised deal.
The Bulldogs have been told that Mitchell Pearce is keen to finish his career by playing alongside his “best mate” Foran in what would be Newcastle’s best halves pairing since Andrew and Matty Johns.
Newcastle recruitment manager Alex McKinnon said the Knights would be interested in a player like Foran but denied any discussion about signing the Bulldogs playmaker.
Andrew and Matthew Johns helped guide Newcastle through a glorious period.
McKinnon said Newcastle would not have the salary cap cash to bring Pearce’s schoolboy halves partner to the club.
“At the moment we don’t have the money for that,” McKinnon said.
“Obviously we would love it, but I don’t think we have the room to see someone like Foran in a Knights jersey.”
The Knights, however, may be able to free enough cash to sign Foran if he is willing to join Pearce on a contract similar to what has been offered by the Bulldogs.
The addition of a second year might be enough to get a deal done.
The Bulldogs have not yet decided if they will make Foran a revised offer.
Kieran Foran and Mitchell Pearce would make one special halves combinaation.
The club is expected to consult incoming coach Trent Barrett before reconsidering the deal.
“We have some interest,” Hill said.
“But we are waiting to see what Kieran wants to do.”
The Wests Tigers have also been linked to Foran.
With the future of No.7 Luke Brooks in doubt and Benji Marshall expected to retire at the end of the year, the Tigers are expected to make a play for Foran in the coming weeks.
While Foran is certain to attract offers of more than $400,000, the playmaker will not get close to the $1.2m he is on with the Bulldogs this season following an injury riddled three-year stint with the club.