Manly Owner Pins Hopes on Kieran Foran for Premiership Glory and Two-Decade Dynasty
Manly Sea Eagles owner and chairman Scott Penn has thrown his full support behind Kieran Foran, expressing a strong conviction that the club can secure a premiership as early as this year under his leadership. More ambitiously, Penn envisions Foran at the helm for the next two decades, building a lasting dynasty for the proud club.
Penn highlighted Foran’s history with the club, noting his instrumental role in the 2011 premiership victory. He emphasised that all eight of Manly’s titles have been achieved with “Manly men as coaches,” a sentiment that clearly resonates with his vision for the future.
The decision to part ways with former coach Anthony Seibold after a string of three consecutive defeats was made with the hope of salvaging the current season. Penn’s optimism was palpable following Foran’s official signing, which secures him with the club until the end of 2029.
“We’re excited to have Kieran in the fold long term,” Penn stated. “He definitely wants to win premierships – Kieran is determined to win one this year.”
Penn elaborated on Foran’s initial approach as caretaker-coach, recalling Foran’s commitment to simplicity and fundamentals. “When Kieran was appointed caretaker-coach, he told us he would keep things simple, he would go back to the basics and give the players belief, and [said], ‘We want to win the comp this year’. There’s no reason we can’t win it this year. That’s all you can ask for from a coach.”
The long-term vision is clear for Penn. “We want Kieran at the helm for a very long term. We see this as a dynasty we’re building, and there’s no reason Kieran can’t be at the helm the next 20 years.”
Penn, who has been involved with the club for two decades, expressed his desire to continue for another twenty years and would be “delighted if Kieran and [CEO] Jason King are with me the whole time. They’re quality people who really care.”
Foran’s Playing Pedigree and Impact
The owner lauded Foran’s invaluable contributions as a player, citing his 318 NRL games as evidence of his deep understanding of the sport. “What Kieran brings to the table after 318 games as a player is he’s a steward of the game, he’s never taken a backward step, he never had a bad game, and overcame some pretty big injuries. You have a quality person who understands what it takes to be an NRL player, and understands what it takes to win.”
While Foran’s transition to head coach came sooner than anticipated, Penn defended the decision to move on from Seibold. “His head coaching journey has come earlier than anyone anticipated, but nine weeks ago, when we made the call we did [to part ways with Seibold], we did it for the betterment of the team and the club in terms of making sure we still had a shot at the 2026 season.”
The impact of Foran’s interim tenure has been undeniable. “Look at what Kieran has achieved. We’ve won seven from nine,” Penn remarked. “We were there competing with Penrith, and while we probably didn’t play as well as we could have against Cronulla last Friday night, we could have won that as well. We could be sitting here nine from nine, which is a phenomenal turnaround.”
Reinforcing the Squad and Future Prospects
Witnessing Foran’s rapport with the playing group in the dressing rooms at Cronulla last weekend further solidified Penn’s belief that he is the right man for the job. Penn is set to return to New York after Thursday’s match against South Sydney, confident in the long-term commitment of his new head coach.
Foran’s appointment is also expected to bolster Manly’s recruitment efforts, particularly in retaining star fullback Tom Trbojevic, whose contract concludes at the end of next year. Trbojevic, currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, is anticipated to return for Round 16 against the Bulldogs.
“We’ve been in discussions for some time with Tom, and Tom is here with us as long as he wants to be,” Penn assured. “We only ever want to see him in maroon and white.”
Trbojevic himself expressed his enthusiasm for Foran’s permanent role. “I’ve absolutely loved working under Foz the past couple of months, and I want to keep building that, so it definitely helps [with me wanting to stay],” he told the media. “He took a risk stepping into that interim role straight after finishing up as a player. But he’s turned our season around, and I’m so happy he’s got the gig.”
The positive ripple effect of Foran’s coaching has already been felt, with Jake Trbojevic swiftly re-committing to the club until 2027.
Boosting Team Strength for Upcoming Fixtures
Manly has the opportunity to temporarily reclaim third spot on the ladder with a victory over Souths at home. The team will be further strengthened by the return of Haumole Olakau’atu, who was rested after State of Origin I and has shown significant improvement under Foran’s guidance. Tolu Koula has also been cleared by an independent doctor to return from the concussion sustained against Queensland.
Foran, reflecting on his appointment, conveyed his dedication to the club’s success. “I care deeply about this club, and I want what’s best for everyone involved in it,” he stated. “I will do everything within my power to make sure it’s a success. It’s been wonderful working with this group of players over the past few months and helping them to build belief is something I have really enjoyed. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by some incredible staff, and they have played a significant part in the success that we’ve had so far.”
