Fortunately backyard footy with his big brother toughened up Kieran Foran.

Little could prepare the Manly pivot for the treatment dished out to him at Skilled Park on Monday night.

But three shuddering hits from 110kg Gold Coast Titans utility Sam Tagataese failed to slow the 89kg Foran.

Despite requiring pain-killing injections by halftime, Foran showed no signs of backing down while guiding Manly to a 16-12 NRL win - just a lot of bruises.

Asked how he managed to get up and keep going after each hit, Foran said: "Probably being a younger brother. My brother roughed me up a bit, that's what it probably comes down to.

"I try and do my job and if that means I have to get up after a king hit I will continue to get up."

But the childhood treatment he copped from older sibling Liam - also a member of the Sea Eagles squad - had nothing on Tagataese's rib rattlers.

"I am going to spend the next 48 hours sitting in an ice bath I think, I am very sore," Foran said with a laugh.

And Foran admitted he was getting used to being targeted, having made the New Zealand team in the same year he made his NRL debut - 2009.

Still only 19, Foran has emerged as a perfect foil for Benji Marshall at international level, and pretty handy for Manly too.

After racking up their fifth win in six games, the Foran-inspired Sea Eagles are sitting pretty at third after 10 rounds.

"I would say I am getting targeted more. But it's the way I play," Foran said.

"Players say 'if he is going to come to the line like that let's whack him and make sure he doesn't do it again'.

"That's the risk I take going to the line but that is my style and I am not going to change it.

"I am just going to have to get hit each week. I have to make sure my body is right so I can accommodate that."

Foran would have been an ideal NSW halves partner for childhood friend Mitchell Pearce.

But Auckland-born Foran had no regrets about switching his allegiances after representing the Australian Schoolboys and NSW under 17s.

"Origin was never an option for me. I am Kiwi through and through," said Foran, who moved to Australia while in primary school.

"But I love watching Origin. There's usually a few stinks. It's a really good show.

"I would probably go for NSW because I am good mates with Mitchell Pearce.

"I reckon I would be struggling to play next week (in Origin I) anyway."

Easing his pain was Manly's win without Brett Stewart (hamstring) and NSW prop Jason King (rib) while centre Steve Matai also appeared to sustain a shoulder injury near fulltime.

"We have so much depth I don't think it matters who we put out there in the 17," Foran said.

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