Corey Norman to sign three-year NRL deal with St George Illawarra
Dragons Den
Could Corey Norman be the one the Dragons have been waiting for?
The dynamic playmaker and missing link in St George Illawarra’s premiership charge?
Arrival: Corey Norman. Picture: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito
He can be unpredictable and comes with a party boy off-field reputation.
But after all the false hope of the Dragons’ 2018 campaign, Norman's three-year deal with St George Illawarra will be made official on Wednesday – and was only delayed because of yet-to-be signed paperwork.
Norman farewelled his Parramatta teammates on Friday and has since gone to the effort of posing for photos in the Dragons playing strip, while recruitment boss Ian Millward is understood to have already praised the five-eighth's arrival in a video waiting to be released to excited members.
Norman will likely join the Dragons for training on Thursday and Friday before they break for Christmas.
The 27-year-old was contracted to the Eels for $940,000 next season. The Dragons' salary cap was so tight for 2019, they could only pay him $510,000, despite releasing Kurt Mann to Newcastle. They can afford to pay Norman $800,000 in 2020.
Norman wanted the Eels to pay $300,000 for him to play elsewhere next year and he has been shopped around by the club. The Eels compromised and have offered to pay $250,000.
Norman wanted $270,000 and stood firm, wanting to link with former Brisbane halves partner partner Ben Hunt. Gareth Widdop is expected to shift to fullback while English Super League club Huddersfield are one club keen to lure him home, but not until 2020.
The biggest debate will be what happens to Matt Dufty and whether the pint-sized No.1 is prepared to spend a year back in the shadows of Widdop, on the wing, or looking elsewhere.
Matt Dufty
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au...be-officially-announced-on-wednesday/?cs=3713