Drinking, gambling, a suicide attempt – and then unthinkable tragedy. Now, in a raw interview, footy great Kieran Foran reveals what finally saved him from his demons – as he calls time on his NRL career

Behind every great man is a great woman – and that certainly rings true for departing NRL star Kieran Foran.

The 35-year-old will turn out for the Gold Coast Titans for a final time this weekend against the Wests Tigers, calling time on a footy career many would envy.

A premiership with the Manly Sea Eagles in 2011 and representing New Zealand in 31 Tests are clear highlights – but it was meeting wife Karina almost a decade ago that’s Foran’s greatest achievement in his eyes.

‘She means everything to me,’ the tenacious five-eighth told the Daily Mail.

‘Karina has been the steady soul I needed. She met me at a dark time in my life, and I was warts-and-all about where I wanted to be [in terms of personal growth].

‘She gives me purpose and is a constant sounding board.’

Handed his first-grade debut by Des Hasler in 2009, Foran quickly became a fan favourite on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Tougher than an old boot, Foran was just 21 when he snared a premiership ring, playing in a Manly team alongside Jamie Lyon, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmough.

He eventually signed a lucrative, multi-year deal with Parramatta in 2016 – but chaos soon followed.

‘I was on a slippery slope, and made a number of poor decisions,’ Foran said.

‘I wasn’t coping with a relationship breakdown and things soon escalated.’

As a form of release, Foran began drinking and gambling excessively, before trying to take his own life with prescription drugs as the demons set in.

Thankfully, he survived the suicide attempt – and the healing process began.

‘Looking back, I learnt some hard lessons, but they helped shape me,’ Foran said.

‘I’m an all-or-nothing person, and since that dark time in my life I’ve done a lot of work on myself.

‘I’ve also had 17 surgeries across my career. You need to be resilient when faced with repeated setbacks.

‘It hasn’t been easy. I am obsessed with rugby league, so not being out there playing… at times, I didn’t feel whole as a person. It is a big part of my identity.’

This is where Karina comes in.

A mother of six, she was running a group fitness class in 2016 which Foran joined.

The attraction was instant for both, and once Foran addressed his problems and signed for the Bulldogs ahead of the 2018 season, the couple started living together.

Next was their wedding, exchanging vows in front of family and friends at a ceremony in Avoca, north of Sydney, the same year.

The death of Foran’s stepson Logan Steinwede in November 2023 aged just 20 continues to rock the couple – but as a result, the footy star is even more passionate about men’s mental health.

Foran is now linked with the Top Blokes Foundation in an ongoing ambassador role, and will continue to work in the space once he hangs up his boots.

‘I‘m incredibly dedicated and passionate about helping people through dark stages of their life,’ he told AAP this week.

‘We as human beings are going to face testing times that can be too much for us, having lived it myself through my own journey.

‘To lose Logan changed our lives, none more so than Karina. My commitment is to help educate young guys that are struggling, to not make that fatal decision.

‘They don’t understand what they are leaving behind and the destruction it leaves on everyone and how sorely they are missed.’

As he looks ahead to his final game this Saturday, Foran is impressed by the current crop of NRL stars.

He continually marvels at the speed of each contest and how much the game has changed.

While drinking sessions were an encouraged form of bonding when he started, fast forward to 2025 and some players don’t touch a drop of alcohol. 

Foran also acknowledges if he didn’t adapt personally, his career would have finished years ago.

Post footy, Foran will join the coaching staff at the Titans, mentoring the likes of Jayden Campbell, Carter Gordon and Zane Harrison.

He will also continue to work with Fox League – and is delighted he can play one final game under Hasler.

‘It is surreal, to start and finish under Des,’ Foran said.

‘He has always believed in me and been the best coach across my career.

‘Hopefully we can chalk up a win to send him out on the right note.’