Kieran Foran’s wife Karina has opened up on how she met her footy star husband and the tragic death of their child and aspiring professional surfer Logan.

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

He is admired by many as a journeyman, having begun his career playing for the Manly Sea Eagles. He’d later go on to make more than 300 NRL appearances, playing for all of Parramatta, the Warriors, Canterbury and the Gold Coast.

The 35-year-old also won a premiership in 2011 with Manly, was capped 31 times by New Zealand and represented the NRL All Stars on two separate occasions.

Karina met Foran in 2016 while he was trying to sort out some of his personal issues.

‘He quit rugby league and was rehabbing a massive shoulder injury. I was teaching a group fitness class and I was told by participants of the class I had an NRL player coming to my classes,’ Karina told News Corp. 

Kieran Foran’s wife Karina has opened up on how she met her footy star husband

Karina revealed that she wasn’t looking for a relationship at the time she met Foran

‘I had to Google him, and I wasn’t in a position to be in a relationship. I had six children. Neither of us were probably in a position to be in a relationship but we just had an undeniable magnetism. 

‘He moved to New Zealand, I obviously stayed here, but when he came back from the Warriors, we were living together and that was it from then.’

Karina says she wasn’t looking for a relationship at the time. 

‘I had sworn off men for the rest of my life. I didn’t want a relationship, to be honest. He also had a lot of chaos going on at the time. It’s not the most appealing thing when there’s so much – not really baggage – I had cargo. But he was no different, he had a lot going on himself,’ she said.

‘What was apparent was none of that mattered, we just knew that we loved each other and we knew it was meant to be.’

Karina revealed that the couple have tried to have children together but ‘it wasn’t meant to be’.

Logan, the stepson of Kieran and son of Karina, took his own life while in the company of his grandparents on the Central Coast of New South Wales in 2023.

Karina said the unfathomable tragedy was very hard on both of them.

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

Karina says Foran was extremely close with her son Logan, who passed away in 2023

‘…I feel like Kieran had to put his grieving second for me. Him and Logan were extremely close, they were best friends. They were just the light of each other’s life,’ Karina said.

‘He’s got two different roads of grieving that he has to navigate through which I’m so grateful for. Life is very different for me now. When you lose a child it’s like your heart is no longer in your chest.’

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

Foran has also been recently 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