tookey
First Grader
Kieran Foran
Foran looked better on paper than Times New Roman. Here was a young, good looking, prodigiously talented leader who made headlines on the field and avoided them off it. The contract negotiations with Parramatta consisted of the Eels yelling at Foran to shut up and take their money. And take it he did, signing a four-year, $4.6 million dollar mega deal which made him one of the highest earners in the sport.
For that kind of scratch, the Eels were expecting a massive uplift in the quality of their on-field product and most importantly, improved results. So have Parramatta got value for money? The short answer is no.
Focusing purely on Foran’s on-field performance, his debut season for the Eels has been an injury-riddled mess.
At best, he could be described as a poor man’s Tim Smith. In a little under nine games, Foran accounted for a total of 5 try assists, 2 line breaks and a single try. In other words, an off-night for Johnathan Thurston.
While Foran did provide a little gumption to a Parramatta defence which has historically had the backbone of an earthworm, he certainly didn’t deliver the kind of impact the Eels were hoping for, particularly at $133k per game.
There’s no doubt that the magnitude and frequency of Foran’s off-field distractions have hampered his performance on the paddock. The Eels have stood by their marquee signing throughout the turmoil, but even the peanuts in the Parramatta boardroom have their limits. By stripping Foran of the captaincy, the club has flagged their expectations going forward.
Because rugby league ability aside, a major reason the Eels invested so heavily in Foran was his marketability. Parramatta is desperate to compete for corporate dollars with TPA magnets like the Roosters and Broncos.
Having a cleanskin poster boy like Foran as the face of the franchise was seen as a major step towards evening up the playing field. But in light of recent events, no company in their right mind would bet their brand on a player carrying more baggage than a hotel porter.
As reports continue to emerge around Foran’s predilection for the punt, misuse of prescription medication and links to underworld characters, questions must be raised as to whether the Eels did their due diligence before signing the Kiwi superstar. If nothing else, Foran will serve as a warning for other clubs to make sure they have all the facts before handing out blank cheques.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/07/04/million-dollar-maybe-big-money-deals-made-no-cents/
Foran looked better on paper than Times New Roman. Here was a young, good looking, prodigiously talented leader who made headlines on the field and avoided them off it. The contract negotiations with Parramatta consisted of the Eels yelling at Foran to shut up and take their money. And take it he did, signing a four-year, $4.6 million dollar mega deal which made him one of the highest earners in the sport.
For that kind of scratch, the Eels were expecting a massive uplift in the quality of their on-field product and most importantly, improved results. So have Parramatta got value for money? The short answer is no.
Focusing purely on Foran’s on-field performance, his debut season for the Eels has been an injury-riddled mess.
At best, he could be described as a poor man’s Tim Smith. In a little under nine games, Foran accounted for a total of 5 try assists, 2 line breaks and a single try. In other words, an off-night for Johnathan Thurston.
While Foran did provide a little gumption to a Parramatta defence which has historically had the backbone of an earthworm, he certainly didn’t deliver the kind of impact the Eels were hoping for, particularly at $133k per game.
There’s no doubt that the magnitude and frequency of Foran’s off-field distractions have hampered his performance on the paddock. The Eels have stood by their marquee signing throughout the turmoil, but even the peanuts in the Parramatta boardroom have their limits. By stripping Foran of the captaincy, the club has flagged their expectations going forward.
Because rugby league ability aside, a major reason the Eels invested so heavily in Foran was his marketability. Parramatta is desperate to compete for corporate dollars with TPA magnets like the Roosters and Broncos.
Having a cleanskin poster boy like Foran as the face of the franchise was seen as a major step towards evening up the playing field. But in light of recent events, no company in their right mind would bet their brand on a player carrying more baggage than a hotel porter.
As reports continue to emerge around Foran’s predilection for the punt, misuse of prescription medication and links to underworld characters, questions must be raised as to whether the Eels did their due diligence before signing the Kiwi superstar. If nothing else, Foran will serve as a warning for other clubs to make sure they have all the facts before handing out blank cheques.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/07/04/million-dollar-maybe-big-money-deals-made-no-cents/
