Kieran Foran says he won't be afraid to have hard conversations with former teammates as he prepares to complete the fastest shift from NRL player to head coach this century.
Less than six months after playing his last NRL game, Foran will on Thursday coach a winless Manly for the first time after last Friday's dramatic axing of Anthony Seibold.
Manly's board met on Wednesday as they attempt to balance giving Foran time to push his own cause while considering other options for the job.
Matt Ballin remains among the front runners with a desire for a Manly person to take charge of the Sea Eagles. Former Parramatta mentor Brad Arthur is believed to be another option.
Manly will give Foran the entire season in charge regardless of whether he wins the full-time job or not, while he will remain on next year's coaching staff regardless.
Nine of Foran's former Sea Eagles teammates remain at Manly from his last year there in 2022, but the former five-eighth was adamant that would not be a problem.
"I never shied away from tough conversations as a player and it certainly doesn't bother me as a coach," Foran said.
"That's part of my nature, I'm as honest as it comes. I was like that as a player.
"I had no problem telling my teammates if they weren't doing a good enough job, and I don't have a problem doing it now."
Foran's appointment marks the shortest rise to head coaching of anyone since Craig Young at St George in 1979.
At age 35 he is among the youngest to take charge of an NRL side, but his unlikely ascension is befitting of one of the game's greatest ever survivors.
Foran's playing career looked over numerous times, only for the Kiwi to spend years defying a horror run of injuries, personal issues and fears of medical retirement.
Instead, he went out on his own terms last year, finishing with a Pacific Cup win for New Zealand in his 351st professional match before starting as Manly assistant the next morning.
"There's been nothing normal about my playing career," Foran said.
"I've been thrown in the deep end a few times and I've attacked it, that's what I've done, so it is no different this time around.
"Age is just a number. If you look at my journey, was I too young to captain the Kiwis at 22?"
Foran has only made one forced change for Thursday night's clash with the Dolphins, and insists his job is not to rip up Manly's squad.
He has also vowed to be patient and allow young half Joey Walsh time to develop in NSW Cup, while confirming there is a push to help usher in Manly's next era.
Foran said he had heard from long-time coach Des Hasler, who reached out this week to offer support despite his own turbulent exit from the Sea Eagles.
Like Hasler, Foran views himself as a career coach, and is ready to cop the pressure and scrutiny that comes with it.
"I know it's coming," Foran said.
"There's been heaps of criticism throughout my career ... It fuels me. I love it.
"I'm headstrong enough to know where I want to get to and the path that I want to take, and I just go full steam ahead."
