'Fozball' has become the "it" word in NRL lexicon this season in what has been an extraordinary ascent to the upper echelons of the sport for Kieran Foran who, at just 35, has been named Manly's head coach.

Just six months on from his own NRL retirement, Foran has transitioned from TV pundit to assistant coach to being in the top job after Anthony Seibold was sacked after three rounds this year.

Such is the impact of Foran's tenure, 4 Pines Brewery - a major sponsor of Manly - will rename the club's home ground for their Rabbitohs clash this Thursday night to "Foz Pines Park".

So what is Fozball?

"I’m not sure what Fozball is," Foran told SEN Breakfast the morning after signing a three-year deal. "As a player I wanted to play the game hard, use my brain and pull apart the opposition and work hard defensively. I suppose my coaching style isn’t too dissimilar to that.

"I want the boys to use their footy brains, back themselves and invest in all areas of the game. They’re doing a really good job of that, it’s been an enjoyable nine weeks. We know a season is a marathon and it will get tougher as we go on.

"It has come quickly but I've jumped straight into it since coming back to Manly. I’ve worked as hard as I could. They moved on Anthony and asked me to step in. Since taking over I’ve done the best I can and I’ve loved it, it’s been a great challenge. I am just really grateful and honoured that the club has seen the potential in me and backed me from the start.

"Everything that comes with coaching; league has given me so much, I cant imagine a life without league in it. That’s how much it means. Also the opportunity to help people in a position I was 15-20 years ago looking to fulfil their dream. Now I can have an impact on their journeys. It lights the fire, trying to win a premiership.

"I’ve always looked at great coaches in the game and thought it’s what I would love to do after my playing day, being I that box taking a team to a premiership would be the ultimate dream.

"I learn something different every day. There's no doubt I have plenty of tough lessons and steep learning curves coming along the way and that why you surround yourself with a quality team to help you in your shortfalls. When I trip up and make mistakes I’ll get up and get on with it."

Foran took over at Manly after the club severed ties with Anthony Siebold following an 0-3 start to the season.

His impact was immediate with the side securing a 52-18 over the Dolphins in round 4 with the team winning seven from nine under their new leadership.

But what was the club like when he arrived when Seibold was still in place?

"For me it felt fine – I had come back as assistant coach," he continued. "Form my point of view, we were in reasonable shape to start the season but we couldn’t get out of the blocks.

"We weren’t playing bad footy. I was fresh back to the club, I hadn’t been here in the prior years, I had a fresh set of eyes."

What about the day Seibold was dismissed?

"At the end of the day the club had made the decision to move Anthony on and it wasn’t until I left Fox that day that I had more in-depth conversations about stepping in," Foran recounts.

"Initially I was surprised that they wanted me to do it given I had just retired six months prior but they felt like I was the right man to step into that role. From the start they said they would support me and give me everything to make it succeed.

"It’s a unique situation but at the end of the day, there hasn’t been a challenge in my life I haven’t backed myself in. This is no different. I love rugby league, it’s been my life."