Manly won’t get what they really want this Christmas with star five-eighth Kieran Foran to leave a decision on his NRL playing future until the new year.

However the New Zealand international five-eighth says he wants it sorted out before the start of the next season in March to avoid a repeat of internal wrangling that marred Manly’s 2014 season before some big names departed.

Manly chairman Scott Penn has said he wants to re-sign Foran and fellow halves star Daly Cherry-Evans before Christmas, but that’s too soon for Foran.

“Once I throw the boots on and get back to training next year I’ll be able to assess my options,” Foran told reporters on Wednesday.

“I’ll make a decision then.”

In big demand from other clubs – including the Auckland-based Warriors who want to team him with brilliant Test partner Shaun Johnson, Foran said he wants his contract resolved by the start of the next campaign.

“I don’t want it dragging on through the season, you saw what that did to us this season gone,” he said.

I’m sure there won’t be any of that.

“But as long as I get it wrapped up before the season starts I’ll be pretty happy.”

Foran was the Sea Eagles poster boy for the launch of their new Auckland Nine jersey on Wednesday, and the five-eighths spoke about his love of the club and Sydney’s northern beaches.

“It would be (hard to leave Manly).

“I’ve been in Manly since I was a 16-year-old so I’ve grown to love the place and I love the area”

“Certainly, it’s very close to home for me.”