Parramatta captain Kieran Foran will make his much-anticipated comeback against Melbourne after flying into Sydney on Thursday night to prepare for the game.
Foran has been on indefinite leave in Queensland to deal with personal issues but will train with his teammates on Friday for the first time since his sabbatical. The Kiwi international has been keeping fit while he has been away and will slot alongside Corey Norman in the halves for the clash on Monday night.
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has given Foran all the time and space he needs to ensure his welfare, but his return will be a timely one after the unexpected loss to South Sydney. The club believes Foran isn't in a position to speak about his experiences publicly for at least a month and the NRL are likely to grant him dispensation from media requirements until he is ready. The 25-year-old was almost cleared to play against the Rabbitohs but those looking after his welfare erred on the side of caution.
The Eels will need to win at least a dozen games to qualify for the playoffs after they were provisionally stripped of 12 competition points. In an interview with Fairfax Media on Sunday, Arthur said there was no pressure on Foran to make a quick return. "His health is very important to us and the good thing, from the conversations I've had with him, is that he's in a very strong place. He's got a lot of clarity about what he wants to do."
Meanwhile, Melbourne Rebels weren't setting up to chase Marika Koroibete, but when the ARU pricked the NRL star's interest, they jumped at it. The 23-year-old completed his move from Melbourne Storm to the Rebels on Thursday, signing a two-year deal that starts next season.
Despite coming from Fiji and having played international rugby league for his birth country, Koroibete is eligible for the Wallabies because he has lived in Australia for more than four years. "It was a very hard decision to make to leave Storm, but it's a great opportunity for my young family here in Melbourne and my family back home in Fiji," Koroibete said via a statement. "I played rugby until my late teens."
