As Kieran Foran gears up to lead Manly against the Dolphins in his inaugural match as head coach on Thursday, the focus extends beyond mere strategies and player selections.
The former player's swift transition into this pivotal role comes less than a year after his retirement and shortly into a stint as an assistant coach, placing him in one of the NRL's most challenging positions.
Brad Fittler emphasizes that it's the psychological challenge, rather than the game itself, that will shape Foran's initial steps in this role.
"Your brain won't stop," Fittler remarked on Freddy & the Eighth, sharing a genuine caution based on his own experiences as a newly appointed head coach.
"When you're the assistant, you can go home and slow down and deliberately tell yourself what you want to think about at training or talk to a player about, but outside that, it will go away, and you can get on with your life."
"When you're the head coach, there's none of that; you don't get your life back. You're constantly churning through (thoughts) ... that'll be the thing he notices, when you're lying down in bed at night, your brain is constant."
Foran took over following the dismissal of Anthony Seibold, after Manly faced a disappointing start to the season marked by three consecutive home losses - a stark contrast to the team's former glory at Four Pines Park.
However, Fittler believes that the timing of Foran's debut could play to his advantage, with three back-to-back away games ahead.
"It gives you a chance, though to find your feet, being away and being with the team," he noted, highlighting that the travel may present a crucial opportunity for a much-needed reset.