Kieran Foran's well-being? Good to go.

Kieran Foran's shoulder? Tick.

Kieran Foran's ability? 'Training the house down'.

Kieran Foran's hammy? Bung.

After all the mayhem that has surrounded the Aotearoa Warriors and Kieran Foran since it was announced that the two would combine for Foran's return to the NRL, the universe had other ideas. The upside was always going to be exciting with Foran joining forces with Shaun Johnson, however the risk of signing Foran wasn't just restricted to whether he was fit to be a professional athlete or not.

Round three was the marker and even then, the Aussie media were talking it up about Foran's shoulder injury possibly keeping him out of action for a few more weeks. The state of the Warriors and Foran's eagerness to get back on the park, was always going to mean that Foran was selected asap and I really wouldn't be surprised if Foran was willing to play through his shoulder issues via his toughness and a couple of injections. That's just my vibe and Stephen Kearney wouldn't have picked Foran to start if Foran's shoulder wasn't close to being all good.

But it doesn't matter now because another troublesome Foran injury has hit the brakes on his return. It's definitely unfortunate that Foran did his hammy at the latest possible moment, just rotten luck, yet Foran arrived at the Warriors with a shoulder issue and a history of hamstring troubles. You could make a strong case that Foran's injury woes played some sort of role in the entire situation with the Eels, major or minor, it had an influence.

We all looked at that upside of having Foran at the Warriors that we kinda overlooked the risk involved in signing Foran. If it wasn't his well-being, it was his recent injuries and then it was the prospect of alienating the young halves coming through who will take the Warriors forward, then it was that Foran could just leave the Warriors after one season. Foran stumbled at the injury stage and now the Warriors must try to move forward.

Rushing Foran back from a shoulder injury is one thing, rushing him back from a hammy is a whole different ball-game. You simply can't rush anyone back from a hamstring injury and it's probably best to play it super safe.

The Wildcard's whipping up a Diary Of An Aotearoa Warriors fan, from his perspective as a Dragons fan so specific thoughts on that kerfuffle on Sunday night will be there. Stephen Kearney must now decide whether Tuimoala Lolohea or Ata Hingano is the best option to partner Johnson moving forward, Kearney may even look deeper into the Warriors roster for answers if he needs a dramatic shake up to get the best out of this team; Mason Lino and Sam Cook are solid options in reserve grade.

Oh how nice it would be to have a veteran half in the group for moments like this yeah? Kearney kicked Hingano to the curb to make way for Foran, although that was probably just to keep Hingano ticking over in the halves with a full reserve grade game so I expect Kearney to default back to Hingano.

The wider context is that it's looking more unlikely by the day that Foran will lace up in the World Cup for the Kiwis. This is a massive year with the World Cup and since the last World Cup we have seen the Kiwis break the shackles to offer some genuine competition to the Kangaroos and a full-strength Kiwis team - with David Kidwell enjoying more than a couple of months to do his thing - has to be judged on what they do a World Cup.

Remember how much shit the All Blacks got for being good outside of World Cups but not winning World Cups? We have to chill on how awesome the Kiwis were and how average they were in the Four Nations, judging them on what they do on the biggest stage at a World Cup. But Foran probably won't be there, which obviously has be doubtful about his future contribution to the Warriors.

Foran and Johnson have done a fine job behind a strong Kiwis forward pack, with the Kiwis taking a few steps backwards when utility players like Peta Hiku, Tohu Harris or Kodi Nikorima are asked to play in the halves; the Thomas Leuluai/Johnson combo just repeated their work with the Warriors, for the Kiwis.

The World Cup will come too early for Nikorima, who looks likely to benefit from Ben Hunt's move from the Broncos to the Dragons next year. The Kiwis and Broncos have looked their best with Nikorima coming off the bench to play dummy half, plus Benji Marshall is running around in reserve grade and hasn't been in the mix for the Kiwis for a while.

That leaves us with Te Maire Martin, who is playing in the halves for Penrith week in, week out.

A fully-fit Foran offers more experience and far tougher defensive intensity than Martin, hence Foran is a first-choice Kiwis half. It does however feel like the stars are aligning for Martin, who burst on to the NRL scene with an impressive stint for Penrith at the start of last season before getting injured. He clawed his way into the Kiwis Four Nations squad but didn't really get a substantial opportunity and the best thing for him right now is to acquaint himself with the rigours of consistent NRL footy.

Every week that Foran is out, the importance of Martin and his form becomes must-watch #KiwiNRL viewing. The Maori Panthers are already must-watch viewing because their backline has Martin, Dean Whare and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in it, Peta Hiku is currently doing a job as an edge forward, James Fisher-Harris is pushing for a World Cup spot and Fisher-Harris' recent injury has opened a door for his Northland homie Corey Harawira-Naera to get some NRL minutes.

Whare, Watene-Zelezniak and Hiku should all be in a Kiwis' top-17 as long as they are healthy. The door is slightly ajar for Martin to also grab a top-17 spot and while the prospect of Martin and Johnson combining with all the firepower that this Kiwis squad could offer, Martin's got to show that there's no chance that he could be a weakness out on the edge. A weakness that the Kangaroos would definitely target with the likes of Boyd Cordner, Sam Thaiday and Matt Gillett.

At this stage, I'd advise that you don't trip about Foran. The dude is currently injury prone and is yet to show that he can stack up impressive NRL performances again, let alone stacking up NRL minutes. Turn your attention to Martin and his work for the Maori Panthers because I get the feeling that Martin could slide into a role of high importance later in the year.