Foran targets title with ‘new ankle’ after 17th surgery

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Foran targets title with ‘new ankle’ after 17th surgery

The quest to bring Gold Coast a maiden NRL title still burns brightly for veteran Kieran Foran after his recovery from an incredible 17th surgery.

The 34-year-old enters his 17th pre-season fighting fit after ankle stabilisation surgery repaired several lateral ligament ruptures.

The 2011 premiership winner will join full training in the next month.

“Hopefully I’ll have a new ankle heading into next year,” Foran grinned.

“I am about 11 weeks post-surgery and back up and running. It is a good feeling to be back out on the training paddock.

“I haven’t had this surgery before. It was a rather big one and I’ve recovered really well.”

Foran won a premiership in 2011 with Manly and has not tasted title glory since. The Titans, whose recruitment of former Test and NSW prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard has given them one of the game’s strongest packs, are still chasing a maiden premiership and Foran insists the goal is achievable.

“I certainly do believe this group is capable of achieving that, with a heck of a lot of hard work, commitment and dedication,” Foran said.

“We will keep the standards high and if we do that anything is possible.”

While most pundits expect the 2025 season to be his last, the man himself has not yet made up his mind.

The perennial question to the halves maestro is: Will this be your farewell season?

Foran started his first pre-season in the NRL when several of the Titans’ youngest train and trial players weren’t even born. His body has taken a battering but Foran keeps bouncing back from mostly leg injuries and surgery to play his best football.

“It has been my last year for the last four years,” Foran said.

“Time will tell. I have always said I am not going to put a finish line on it.

“My body and my mind will tell me when it is time to pull up stumps, when I can no longer play the sort of footy that I and the team need me to play.

“At this stage, I have still got plenty left in the tank so I will keep going.”

The Titans have options to partner No.7 Foran. Jayden Campbell is the front-runner. AJ Brimson is another contender, as is former Wallabies No.10 Carter Gordon at some stage in the season.

“We’ve got a great young group here and a number of spine players and guys we’ve tinkered with over the last 12 months. We will look at where everyone can fit in,” Foran said.

“I’m the incumbent No.7 so I will work my backside off. Nothing is guaranteed in this game but I will be full bore ahead post-Christmas

“I am a competitor. I am going to compete and I’m looking forward to the challenge. “The jersey will go to the player that deserves it most. These guys continue to push me.”

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