Eels shift attention in Foran's absence

Parramatta have little time to shift focus in the absence of Kieran Foran as they search for a new playmaker for Friday night's match against Canterbury.

Parramatta Eels captain Kieran Foran

Parramatta will shift focus to on-field matters as the club deals with Kieran Foran's absence. (AAP)

Parramatta will shift focus to on-field matters on Friday as the NRL club continues to deal with captain Kieran Foran's indefinite leave of absence.

Foran was reportedly released from hospital on Friday morning after being granted leave from Parramatta to deal with personal matters following a split from his long-time partner.

It continues what has been a turbulent 2016 campaign for the Eels, who despite encouraging form on the field, have lurched from one crisis to another - the biggest being the ongoing threat of losing competition points as a result of an alleged salary cap breach.

Now the Eels have to find a new playmaker, with logical stand-in Luke Kelly unavailable after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament three weeks ago in the NSW Cup.

It's likely to leave Mitch Cornish - with just 15 games of NRL experience as an in-again, out-again half at Canberra in 2014 and 2015 - to steer the ship alongside Corey Norman in Friday night's match against Canterbury.

Another option could be winger Clint Gutherson, who played five-eighth for Manly in NSW Cup two seasons ago.

While there has been no indication as to how long Foran will be absent from football, it is unlikely he will be available to partner Shaun Johnson in the halves for New Zealand in next week's mid-year Test against Australia.

That side will be announced on Sunday, the NZ Rugby League on Friday refusing to be drawn into speculation surrounding his availability.

"The thoughts and best wishes of New Zealand Rugby League and the NZ Kiwis are with Kieran Foran, while he works through his personal circumstances," the NZRL said in a statement.

"We hope his privacy will be respected during this time."

Foran's long-time partner Rebecca Pope's Instagram account now titles her as a "single mummy to Jordan & Emerson".

In a recent post on the social media site, she alluded to the fact the pair had split three weeks after 10-week-old Jordan's birth.

Foran has also been involved in legal action with former club Manly, where he is reportedly seeking to recover almost $150,000 in third-party payments.


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Source: AAP



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