7th Tackle: Foran return home could be costly

Only 600,000 reasons for Foran to cross the Ditch

Kieran Foran will need to take a sizable pay cut to resurrect his career with the New Zealand Warriors next season.

We’ve been told the Warriors have just $600,000 to spare in their cap for 2017 – money the club had been keeping safe for a surprise buy. After walking away from his $1.2 million salary at Parramatta, Foran certainly fits into that category.

He’s now essentially unemployed, believed to be living on the Central Coast close to his mother and older brother, Liam.

Foran is being heavily linked with a move to the Warriors. Pic: Getty

How professionally the former Kiwis skipper is treating his injured shoulder – which underwent season-ending surgery in May – is not known.

The Warriors are entitled to wary about that. If the injury has not been rehabilitated correctly over the past three months, it could set Foran’s return back some time or, worse still, aggravate the risk of it recurring.

Warriors CEO Jim Doyle says he’s been in regular contact with Foran; the pair’s relationship extending back several years to when Doyle ran the NZRL.

Warriors insiders say Doyle has a soft spot for big name signings that boost gate receipts and sponsorship.

Warriors CEO Jim Doyle has kept in close contact with Foran. Pic: Getty

Word has it he even raised Benji Marshall’s name at a recruitment meeting a few months ago.

Andrew McFadden’s coaching staff shut that idea down quick smart.

Meanwhile, the next three weeks shape as career-defining for McFadden, who was told at the start of the year he can expected to be sacked should the Warriors fail to make the top eight.

Corey caused too much Payne

A few months ago the Panthers allowed their new-CEO, Corey Payne, to travel to China.

Hardly a month in the chair, the 32-year-old made the trip to broaden his studies.

On his return, Payne was keen to share the fruits of his education with peers from other clubs.

He was noticeably vocal at a pathways seminar at Canterbury Leagues last month.

Former Bulldogs player Payne only lasted four months as Penrith CEO. Pic: Getty

Few in attendance were impressed by the rookie’s confidence and pride in his academic achievements; which was also wearing thin at Penrith.

In the 24 hours since the Panthers confirmed Payne’s departure – just four months after he was hired – we’ve heard a flurry of bizarre stories.

The best involves some unsolicited advice he gave to coach Anthony Griffin, whose drawling delivery could apparently use some more media training.

Griffin didn’t take kindly to the feedback, as it was offered in front of other staffers during a presentation.

Penrith’s board decided it was the final straw late last week.

Not even general manager Phil Gould, who was instrumental in employing Payne, could change their minds.

A critique of Griffin proved the final straw for Payne. Pic: Getty

Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher has now taken on Payne’s role in the football department – a set-up we’re told could continue for some time.

The final question now is: will Payne be remembered as the most ill-fated CEO appointment in NRL history.

If not for the basket case otherwise known as the Parramatta Eels, we reckon he might well have gotten the gong.

Former Eels boss Paul Osborne – who found himself under police investigation at one point for leaving a Woolworths supermarket without paying for his groceries – probably gets the nod. Ironically enough, Payne was a high-ranking executive at Woolworths before joining the Panthers.

Tackle the Grapple

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy was very measured when invited to give his thoughts on Josh Hodgson’s light punishment for Monday night’s grapple tackle on Storm prop Jesse Bromwich.

With a wry grin, Bellamy said the tackle reminded him of one in 2008 – the height of grapple mania in Melbourne.

That one famously cost Melbourne skipper Cam Smith a grand final appearance. Eight years later, Hodgson could have avoided suspension altogether and will only miss this weekend’s clash because he’s cleverly elected to plead ‘No Contest’ and avoid taking 75 carry-over points into September.

But trust us: behind the scenes Bellamy was not impressed. In fact, he’s not been impressed for several months.

Bellamy seems less than impressed with policing of the grapple tackle. Pic: Getty

According to Melbourne officials – and they should know all too well – the grapple tackle has been making an insidious comeback among rival sides.

Melbourne believes the match review committee has instead been too focused on its latest obsession - players touching referees – to notice. Given the force with which the NRL confronted the plague several years ago, Melbourne are entitled to be dirty.

Hodgson’s neck twist was so obvious that most thought he’d receive at least a three or four week suspension.

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