Footy great Kieran Foran will hang up his boots at the end of the 2025 season.

A household name in the NRL, Foran will call time on a glittering 16-year career in footy’s top flight.

He is widely regarded as a journeyman in rugby league, having started his career with the Manly Sea Eagles. Over time, he played in over 300 NRL games for teams including Parramatta, the Warriors, Canterbury, and the Gold Coast.

At 35, he achieved significant milestones, winning a premiership with Manly in 2011, earning 31 caps for New Zealand, and representing the NRL All Stars twice.

Despite always having a lively and outspoken public image, Foran has openly shared his battles with mental health, admitting he once reached a point where he contemplated ending his life.

During his career, the 35-year-old five-eighth struggled with addiction and explained he had felt shame at trying to hide those issues.

Rugby league player Kevin Foran (seen with his wife Karina) has shared his experiences with mental health challenges, with the hope of encouraging others to talk about their struggles and seek assistance.

The Gold Coast half-back will hang up his boots at the end of the 2025 season 

Foran would continue playing professional footy, despite taking some time out from the game to address his mental health issues

“I’ve always been an optimistic and upbeat person. To others, it seemed like I had it all—at 25, I was earning well, captaining an NRL team, and living my dream,” the former captain of Parramatta Eels and Manly told The Daily Telegraph.

‘But inside, my world felt very different. I could feel my world spiralling down.’

The 35-year-old took time away from the footy pitch to address his mental health.

Now, a decade later, Foran, having played a total of 314 NRL matches for various teams, reflects on that challenging time and reveals he is in a much better place today.

‘I say that now when I talk to people that the greatest satisfaction I have had from my life is how I have rebuilt it – step by step, layer by layer,’ he told the outlet.

‘That is one of my most important and greatest achievements, rebuilding a pretty broken life at stages, one that was filled with various battles and addictions and things I never thought I would be able to overcome.’

During that difficult period, Foran managed only 66 games between 2016 and 2020, while he was playing for the Eels, the Warriors and Canterbury.

He had questioned his future in the game, before Des Hasler offered him the chance to return to play for Manly in 2021.

He also spoke out on what it’s like to lose someone to suicide, after his wife Karina (pictured right) lost her son Logan two years ago

The footy star will continue to work as a mental health advocate after he hangs up his boots later this year

‘Over the course of time, there were certain moments of doubt and times where I wasn’t sure whether I could keep going or should keep going,’ he explained last week after his retirement announcement.

He added: ‘There’s always been an internal belief that I wasn’t quite finished and quite done, despite a number of setbacks and surgeries.’

Foran would continue playing and went on to become one of 55 members of the 300-game club.

He has also seen firsthand the devastation that suicide can leave behind after his wife’s son, Logan, died by suicide two years ago.

‘They have no idea how much they are loved and how important they are – no matter what their circumstances,’ he said.

‘My wife is so strong and she is trying to do absolutely everything she can to still get through life but a part of her will always be gone now.’

After his retirement, the Manly great will continue to work as a mental health advocate.

Foran has also been announced as a new Heart On My Sleeve ambassador.

Heart On My Sleeve aims to provide support to those suffering from mental health issues by normalising emotional honesty and reducing stigmas about speaking about difficult subjects.

The not-for-profit organisation is encouraging others to be comfortable saying: ‘I’m not OK.’

Lifeline provides 24-hour crisis counselling. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14

The Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 support. Call 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue aims to increase awareness of depression and anxiety. Call 1300 22 4636

MensLine Australia is a counselling service offering support to Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78