NRL: Kieran Foran starts retail job during break from NRL

Former Kiwis international Kieran Foran has begun a part-time job in retail. Photo / Photosport.

Unsigned Kiwis international Kieran Foran has entered the workforce and started a job in retail as he continues to work towards returning to the NRL next season.

The former Manly and Parramatta playmaker has begun working part-time in an effort to improve his mindset and ensure his time away from the game is well spent.

Foran's godfather and Auckland-based solicitor Don Mackinnon has been encouraged with Foran's progress over the last two months and says he is making good strides towards resurrecting his playing career.

"Kieran's arranged some part time work through a contact," said Mackinnon.

"He's had a very good last six to seven weeks and he's trying really hard to get his life in order and back on track."

The Warriors are considered frontrunners to sign Foran but the 26-year-old must first convince the NRL he is ready to embark upon a playing comeback.

His association with controversial betting identity Eddie Hayson and allegations linking the pair to match fixing are of concern to both New South Wales police and the NRL's integrity unit.

The game's governing body also want assurances he has taken steps to address personal issues that saw him released in July from an AU$1.2 million-per-season contract with Parramatta on compassionate grounds.

The Warriors are understood to have a contract offer ready for Foran to sign but he remains reluctant to leave Australia and his two young children and continues to explore options that would allow him to remain in Sydney.

Foran met with Bulldogs officials last Wednesday while he is reportedly due to meet with St George Illawarra in the coming days with Dragons coach Paul McGregor confirming the club's interest in signing him.

"I think everyone knows I'm looking for a halfback to replace Benji (Marshall)," McGregor told the Daily Telegraph.

"As for Kieran, who wouldn't be interested if he was keen and we could get him cleared to play."

Meanwhile, Foran's former partner and mother of his children, Rebecca Pope, has expressed outrage over comments Hayson made about his relationship with Foran.

Pope angrily took to social media to vent her frustrations after Hayson addressed his relationship with Foran during a colourful press conference last Thursday.

"If I wasn't in his life this year, he probably wouldn't be alive," Hayson said.

Pope posted video of the former brothel owner addressing media, on her Instagram account and made her feelings clear with the caption: "How dare you!!!!! You are absolute scum of the earth Eddy Hayson."

Hayson enlisted the services of celebrity publicist Max Markson and funded his own press conference at the Premier's Room at Sydney's Intercontinental hotel.

Reporters grilled Hayson in the hour-long interview in which he said he would distance himself from Foran if it would help him to resurrect his NRL career.