Kieran Foran has made the frank admission that his NRL career ‘could have ended so many times’ after years of injury torment and personal heartbreak. But at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium on Sunday, the history-making Kiwi veteran has an opportunity to close the curtain on a glittering career with victory over Samoa in the Pacific Cup final.
Foran is set to retire with his 16-year Test career the longest of any Kiwi or Kangaroo in history. And in Sunday’s decider against Samoa, the veteran playmaker will be eyeing a fairytale finish in his 351st and final professional match, before re-joining former club Manly as part of Anthony Seibold‘s coaching staff.
NRL veteran Kieran Foran is hoping to end his glittering playing career with a fairytale victory for New Zealand in the Pacific Cup final against Samoa. Pic: Getty
The 35-year-old’s career path has been well documented, as have his many personal struggles. Foran’s stepson, Logan, died by suicide in 2023 at the age of 20 and the Kiwi playmaker has been a prominent voice in the mental health space ever since. Foran was recognised for his incredible contribution to the community by winning the 2025 Ken Stephen Medal at this year’s Dally M awards night.
Foran has also battled an extraordinary injury toll over the last 10 years that left the veteran fearing his career would end on numerous occasions. The 35-year-old was close to medical retirement in 2020, but says his burning desire to win another premiership – after his 2011 triumph with Manly – drove him to play on.
Kieran Foran was chaired off the ground after playing the final game of his glittering NRL career with the Titans in September. Pic: Getty
And Foran insists victory in the Pacific Cup final will make the years of struggle all worth it. “I actually thought about that this week,” Foran told AAP. “The reason I’ve been hanging on to my footy career for as long as I have was the dream of hopefully winning another premiership. But this is the next best thing.
“The reality is for me it could have ended so many times. Through all the injuries, setbacks, adversity and dips in form. But I just feel like this is hopefully a reward for having hung in there for so long. It’s an example of actually pushing through times when they’re really difficult and really tough, because there is sunshine at the end of it.”
Kieran Foran to play final game of career in Pacific Cup final
Foran says representing New Zealand is ‘at the core’ of his love for footy. Victory on Sunday would be a fitting way for the script to end for one of the game’s most popular players. And the 35-year-old’s record for the longest Test reign of any New Zealand or Kangaroos player is something he’s ‘so proud’ of.
“There was that middle part of my career where It just felt like it was all going so wrong for me,” he added. “I just wanted so badly as a kid to be a great player and get everything out of myself. And it felt like for a period of time there that I was just never going to get the opportunity to to do that. No matter what I did, my body wasn’t responding.
“It was going to be a wonderful start to it, my career, but a really sad ending. So I just feel really, really grateful that I’ve been able to turn it around with the support and the help of hose close to me.”
Kiwi veteran Kieran Foran celebrated victory over Tonga in what was his final Test in front of home fans at Auckland’s Eden Park. Pic: Getty
Foran played his last home game in New Zealand’s victory over Tonga at Eden Park last weekend and admits his Kiwis farewell has been easier than his NRL swansong with the Titans. But even if New Zealand lift the Pacific Cup trophy on Sunday, there will be no time to party for Foran, whose first day in the new role at Manly begins on Monday.
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“I don’t need a break,” Foran said. “I’ve devoted my whole life to rugby league, and I don’t want it to be any different once I retire. Seibs offered one, but I’m pretty keen to just hit the ground running at Manly.”
with AAP