Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran believes inspiring a depleted Sea Eagles side to a gutsy 27-16 win over Sydney Roosters has been highlight of his fledgling career.

The 20-year-old New Zealand international produced a tremendous second-half performance on Sunday, scoring a try, setting up another for William Hopoate and ironing out close mate Mitchell Pearce with a huge hit.

With the Sea Eagles forced to do without co-captains Jason King and Jamie Lyon as well Steve Matai and Glenn Stewart, Foran decided it was time he led the way.

"During the week with so many guys out I thought it was time for me to step up," Foran said.

"I didn't want us to lose our first two games of the season and I thought it was a real good opportunity to win against the Roosters and as a team we did that.

"It is up there as my best game without doubt, I stepped up and led the side, sometimes I have a tendency to let the game pass me by waiting for something to happen and I wanted to change that.

"It was time for me to make things happen and I thought I did that."

Foran's hit on Pearce midway through the second half delighted the visiting supporters at the Sydney Football Stadium as well as the young Kiwi, who's known the NSW halfback from primary school.

"I saw it coming and, as he came towards me, I just lined him up," he grinned.

"When I moved to Australia we went to the same primary school, he was in my brother Liam's year and they were best mates so that's how I know him.

"He shook my hand after the game and said `well played' and `you deserved to win' which was really nice to hear."

Foran also set up Hopoate for his first NRL try with a spiralling kick that finished with the 18-year-old gathering in a sea of Roosters.

It was only his fifth game in first grade and the first time he'd played in the centres, but the son of former NSW and Test winger John Hopoate is more than happy in the role.

"I played there a lot in the juniors and I am very comfortable there," Hopoate told AAP.

"I don't really mind where I play, if it's on the wing or fullback, I just want to play first grade and I will do my best wherever I am picked."

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