When Matt Orford left the Manly Sea Eagles last year, panic set in. There was no one to replace the Ox in the halves.
Kieran Foran shaped as a prospect but little more than that, despite being touted by league great Andrew Johns as potentially the best player in the world.
Now it is more a question of 'Ox who?' as Orford struggles with homesickness in the north of England at the Bradford club. Meanwhile, Foran has exceeded expectations in his first full season in the halves as Manly look likely to be NRL play-off contenders for the sixth straight year under coach Des Hasler.
Foran, just turned 20, and Canterbury-bound Trent Hodkinson 21, have formed the youngest regular halves combination in the competition and took Manly into the top eight this season, with veteran five-eighth Jamie Lyon in the centres for guidance.
Foran has a sound defence, which came to the fore in New Zealand's 12-8 Anzac test loss to Australia in May.
Kangaroos skipper Darren Lockyer directed plenty of play his way but Foran stood firm, making 21 tackles in the face of the big Australian pack. His effort prompted Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney to label him a "tough little cookie".
"It helped me enormously to put in a solid performance in such a big match against the best team in the world," Foran says. "I got to test myself against Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer. It allowed my big-match nerves to settle. It helps knowing you can handle it when you come into these must-win NRL games."
On attack, Foran has been noted for his running game. At a beefed up weight - somewhere in the region of 90kg - Foran has proven a force to contend with taking on the line.
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has noted improvements to other aspects of his game too. "He has made a huge leap in the last 12 months after initially coming into first grade as a centre. This year he's developed his passing and kicking to complement his running game. That makes him a real danger with so much variety to call on."
That is demonstrated by figures, which show him third among five-eighths for try assists (15) and seventh for tackle breaks (32). Foran now goes into a duel with St George-Illawarra's Nathan Fien as to who will partner Kiwis captain Benji Marshall in the halves for the Four Nations. Fien returned from his broken ankle to come off the interchange bench against the Roosters a fortnight ago and filled in for Ben Hornby at halfback last week against Foran's Sea Eagles.
He returns to the bench for the match against the Raiders today. But with Fien now 31, Foran shapes as a longer-term option.
One of Foran's halves opposites last night, Brett Seymour, says he was a much-talked about threat beforehand.
"He's physical and able to take on guys coming at him; he backs himself to dominate. He's also got a great running game and has developed his passing for a young guy who has only played five-eighth a short time at NRL level. He has also formed a good combination on the left edge with [second-rower] Anthony Watmough which will be formidable for years.
"He's paved his way this season and should be earmarked as a Kiwi for a long time."
In person Foran has a calm demeanour but combines equal parts barking and cajoling when steering his team around the field. He says the likes of Watmough, Lyon and Glenn Stewart have helped him direct play.
"When you're trying to get up to NRL standard, those guys are a great help with all their experience in the competition. That has eased the burden of directing the team around the park."
Foran shaping as formidable five-eighth
Kieran Foran. Photo / Getty Images
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