Should Kieran Foran become Manly's next permanent coach?

With Fozball off to a flying start, Denan Kemp and Chad Townsend have debated whether Manly should appoint Kieran Foran as its next permanent coach.

After losing their first three games and parting ways with Anthony Seibold, the former Kiwi international has won his first three games, seeing the Sea Eagles sit comfortably in the top eight.

Following a change in their fortunes, talk has increased about the possibility of Foran becoming their permanent coach.

Speaking on whether Sea Eagles officials should appoint him to the role, Townsend thinks Foran should follow the path of other NRL coaches and be an assistant for a little longer after his interim role finishes.

“If you're Kieran Foran, he is probably OK for the club to have some time to get their ducks in a row as well,” Townsend told SEN’s Saturday League Kick-Off.

“He would have Manly's best interests at heart, and the best thing for him and his long-term coaching career is to go back and do a bit more of an apprenticeship under someone else.

“Because we've seen guys like (Cameron) Ciraldo, like (Andrew) Webster, like (Craig) Fitzgibbon, who have done long apprenticeships and (are) now having success at (the) NRL level.

“On the other hand, we've seen someone like Benji Marshall, who had an outstanding career (and) pretty much, other than a little stint in the media, jump straight in there and have some success after a couple of years.”

This sentiment was shared by Kemp, believing that Foran would be happy to continue his coaching apprenticeship before taking a head coaching role in a permanent capacity.

“If I'm Manly, don't allow the pressure and the noise to push you in any sort of direction,” he added.

“You've got time, and you're dealing with a guy in Kieran Foran, who only wants what's best for Manly.

“He doesn't have ulterior motives. He's not trying to squeeze you for a long contract or whatever.

“If you stay in open communication with him, exactly where you're standing, what you're feeling…the thing with Kieran Foran is if he's going to be a good coach, he's going to be a good coach regardless of whether it's this year or in three years' time.

 “So, if you get to a point where you're like, you say to him, listen, we wanna get a more experienced guy, you know, in there.

“Let's say, for example, it's Matt Ballin (or) someone that's been touted for the job.

“I'm sure Foran would be like, 'Yeah, I'm happy to serve an apprentice under him'.

“And then the good thing is if he's still at the club in two years' time, which he probably would be and Ballin (or someone else) doesn't work out, you know who your next guy is.”

The Sea Eagles will look to continue their unbeaten streak under the interim coach when they return for their first home game since Round 4.

They’ll host the Eels at Brookvale Oval on April 26 with kick-off at 4:05pm AEST.