He has to be in the right place mentally, and while he is moving towards a better place, he is not there yet. He is dealing with flak and innuendo, and there are some tough days ahead.

What Foran didn't need were the heartless and irresponsible actions of a media organisation, which sank to a new low after the Eels game on Monday night.

The Eels had asked media to respect Foran as he recovers. The television networks struck a deal to allow Parramatta to film his first training session back with the club and distribute the vision for everyone to use to ease Foran in. Despite one network showing up, no one shot a frame of footage.

However, on Monday night things got rugged for Foran when a network tried to pull a swifty post-match. They sent young reporters to speak to Foran as he walked to his car after the game. The first one fronted him with a mobile phone, under the guise he wanted a selfie. It was a tactic to allow a cameraman, who was lagging behind in the pursuit of Foran, to get in position.

At first, Foran said no to the selfie request with a "not tonight mate", but then he agreed to pose for a photo. At that point, the punter who asked for the selfie turned "journalist" and started videoing the encounter. Then he stared asking questions of Foran. At that point, the cameraman came rushing towards Foran's car. Foran twigged that he had been set up and got out of there.

To say that his blood was boiling is an understatement.

Parramatta's media people quickly found out about it. It is thought Foran called them to report the matter. The Eels complained to the network, who did a quick backtrack. An apology was sent to the Eels from the head of sport but, as far as the club and Foran are concerned, the damage is done.

Delay leaves Tigers at sixes and sevens

Wests Tigers' decision in January to give Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks more time to test the market has put them in a position of weakness when it comes to assembling their roster for next year.

Giving the players the upper hand and letting them see if they can jag $800,000 from a rival club has set the Tigers back when it comes to placing players at other clubs next year.

No one was willing to bite at the really big bucks and unless there is a last-minute play for the star halves they will both sign on with the Tigers.

The Tigers could have started moving players to other clubs last month, or at least made solid plans to do that to revamp their roster. Instead, they will start their restructure once the players make their minds up.

The positive news for the Tigers is they have Mark O'Neill at the club as their general manager of football and he's starting to clean up the mess.

Half measures: Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks. Photo: Ben Rushton

A Daley Walker

It would be easy to say Bob Fulton picked Dylan Walker in the Blues side because he is a Manly player. It would also be wrong. And disrespectful to Laurie Daley. Daley picked Walker, and got the team he wanted.

Daley made that point to me on the day the team was announced. What has not been made public is that when Daley brought Walker's name up at the selection meeting, Daley said he was confident Walker would do the job if picked. At the same time he brought up Jack Bird and gave him a big push. Daley chose Walker because he has played for Australia and in a grand final.

Bird's time will come, as he is a huge talent. Daley is of the view that Walker can cover more positions. He is the prototype for the "rover" position that is becoming essential in the modern game.

There was also a very strong push from Fulton for Andrew Fifita to make the side. Daley has struggled with the idea of picking Fifita, but he knows how good a player he can be when he is focused. He's been the most destructive forward in the NRL this season. Fulton has backed him in a big way, but it was Daley who made the call to include Fifita. The pressure on Fifita to perform will also come from skipper Paul Gallen, who has vouched for his teammate.

No solo Blues

The theme of the Blues camp in Coffs Harbour has been "selflessness". Group activities and team bonding have been central to their preparation. Robbie Farah won the team poker night, golf was played and there was an emphasis on never allowing a teammate to walk around the facility on their own.

The "spine" of the team spent plenty of time getting to know each other and there was a new addition to the Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson bromance. Dylan Walker has been by their side and the three have been getting along famously.

Worth a mint

When he fronts court on July 13 it wouldn't be surprising if Corey Norman says he had no knowledge of what it was he was handed by a mate at The Star on May 20. I've been told the pills were in a metal mint container and Norman's mate claimed they were his "mints" when they were stopped by security.

What can be said with certainty is that one night out cost Norman at least $200,000. He's after at least that much more from the Eels. When Eels officials heard what Norman was caught up in they were angry.

Sorry business

Cameron Smith certainly showed he is a figure of considerable influence in the NRL when he got an apology on The Footy Show for the way he was treated on 60 Minutes in relation to the shocking Alex McKinnon incident.

This column said from day one that Smith's conduct in the heat of the moment was wrong. And the effort to apologise for that should have been greater. As for McKinnon, he is entitled to have an opinion. And McKinnon's family wanted the story to be Alex's story. When I last spoke to McKinnon he was happy with the story and he has made peace with Smith.

In Todd we trust

NRL boss Todd Greenberg is on the front foot when it comes to the under-fire bunker. He wants those slamming it to watch it in action, and he invited the entire Channel Nine commentary team to watch how it works under pressure.

He is clearly hoping they were impressed, or got a better understanding of the matter so they ease up on the criticism. After watching the first half, the Nine types were taken to dinner at a Surry Hills restaurant.

Fox hunting

Cooper Cronk and Tara Rushton are slowly emerging as power players at Fox Sports. It was interesting to note they were on the table of network bigwig Patrick Delany at the Logies.

Cronk is heading towards a new two-year deal with the Storm, but his agent, George Mimis, has bigger plans for the halfback. He is working on a five-year plan – and that could involve a future in the media. There is no question Cronk is smart and an excellent communicator. Commentary or coaching seem a natural fit.

"There are three blokes at the Storm: Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk who have the potential to be as good in the media as they are on the field," Fox Sports' Steve Crawley said. "Billy has a deal with Nine, Cam has a non-exclusive deal with Fox and Cooper has a deal with us as well. Cooper is already a real talent and he has the potential to be outstanding, and it's a nice coincidence that his girlfriend, Tara, works with us as well."

Maroons half Cooper Cronk. Photo: Getty Images

Unwanted man

How much is Tony Williams going to cost a rival club for the rest of the year? Less than $80,000. But even at that cheap price Manly, one of his old teams, don't want him.

Still invincible

The captain of the 1982 Invincibles, Max Krilich, ended up in intensive care this week after a double knee reconstruction. He had a bad reaction to the anaesthetic, but has told friends he is OK.

World wonder

Wide World of Sports was a big part of this columnist's youth: hours in front of the tele watching Chappelli, the Bear, Kenny and co.; waiting for Warner Wolf to throw to the videotape; laughing at the guy in the opener who injures himself on the pommel horse; and dreading when the program would show the races. Today there is a 35th anniversary show, with live appearances from Max Walker and Ian Chappell, while Ian Maurice will be doing updates.

Respect, Ricky

Like him or otherwise, no one can question the great work Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has done through his charity. The Ricky Stuart Foundation will feature on the front of the Canberra jumpers for today's game against the Bulldogs. The Raiders' major sponsor, Huawei, has kindly donated the front-of-jersey position and the jumper will promote the #AutismWellbeing message.

■ Danny Weidler is a Nine reporter.