Let's not get too ahead of ourselves. The Eels haven't even tabled an offer...
Broncos set to tie up Corey Norman with new deal
OREY Norman wants to stay at the Broncos, and it will take a substantial offer to lure him away from Red Hill.
Norman's manager Paul Sutton met Broncos football manager Andrew Gee on Monday to discuss extending his client's contract, and the recent interest from cashed-up Parramatta.
It is understood the Broncos have been negotiating with Norman for weeks, while there is no formal offer from the Eels on the table.
The Courier-Mail revealed that the Eels' interest in Norman was serious after they missed out on Cowboys front-row enforcers James Tamou and Matt Scott for 2014.
Eels coach Ricky Stuart is continuing to scour the player market, with the Eels already seeing this season as one for rebuilding.
Norman, 22, is one of the Broncos' brightest talents, but he has not realised his potential as quickly as many predicted.
He won man-of-the-match honours in his NRL debut in 2010, but wearing Darren Lockyer's No.6 jersey last season proved a burden too difficult to handle.
The Broncos have enlisted Lockyer to help Norman and halves partner Peter Wallace.
Lockyer's manager George Mimis confirmed his client had been working with the Broncos' halves in an advisory role for three months.
"It's more a mentor role for Corey Norman and Peter Wallace," Mimis said. "He's an ambassador at the Broncos, not a coach.
"It's more general advice and video review."
Norman will start at No.6 in Brisbane's trial against New Zealand Warriors in Dunedin on Saturday.
Broncos coach Anthony Griffin yesterday named a near-full-strength team for the trial, which will be televised live on Fox Sports and delayed on Channel 9.
Scott Prince will come off the bench again, with Wallace preferred at halfback.
Prince is still favoured to win the No.7 jersey for the round 1 clash with Manly.
He has already played a full 80 minutes in the All Stars game, whereas Wallace and Norman played only last week's trial loss to Gold Coast.
The Broncos have lost both their trial matches, but that form pales in comparison with the Warriors, who lost their last eight games of the 2012 season and both trials this year.
The players have been enjoying a five-day camp at the South Island holiday destination of Queenstown, in a staunch rugby union region.
Queenstown has just one rugby league club, and in a huge change for the Broncos they have only had one media interview request this week.
A crowd of more than 20,000 is expected for Saturday's clash, indoors at Forsyth Barr Stadium, home to Super Rugby's Highlanders.