Dragons 2019: Norman's positional fate in McGregor’s hands
Local Sport
DONE DEAL: Corey Norman will be a Dragon for the next three years. Picture: AAP
COREY Norman is officially a Dragon, but what number he wears on his back remains in the hands of coach Paul McGregor after the club confirmed his arrival on Wednesday.
The long-mooted switch is now a done deal after Norman and manager Paul Sutton ironed out some finer points in the 27-year-old’s release from the Eels.
It will see him arrive in Wollongong on a three-year deal where he shapes as the long-term replacement for skipper Gareth Widdop, who is all but certain to depart for the Super League at the end of 2019.
Recruitment chief Ian Millward said whether Norman is fast-tracked into the No. 6 jumper, with Widdop shifting to fullback, is a matter for McGregor.
"Straight away, there will be speculation around the position he'll play and that'll be up to the coach,” Millward said.
"When we make these decisions, it's not always about pure recruitment. We talk to our senior players, we speak to our coach.
“Overall, we have been impressed. We feel Corey is a quality player and will give Paul an opportunity to work with some really outstanding talent.
"Corey’s a player who will entertain fans with his ability in attack and he is a player who we see will take us to the next level with the way he plays the game.”
Shifting Widdop to fullback, where he has starred at Test level for England, would also satisfy the club’s desire to recruit a quality outside back.
What it means for the future of young-gun Matt Dufty remains to be seen. The livewire fullback was reportedly shopped around in the off-season before the club went cold on signing Jarryd Hayne.
He’s been assured his deal will be honoured for 2019, but the prospect of putting his career in a holding pattern could prompt the local junior to look elsewhere.
Norman was first linked to St George Illawarra when he was last off-contract before he re-committing to the Eels and he said the the club never lost it’s appeal as possible home.
“There are some exciting times ahead," Norman said.
"The Dragons squad at the moment is really good and coming off a good year so I'm really looking forward to playing with the boys and spending plenty of good seasons here."
Norman fills the 29th spot on the Dragons 30-man roster, though a salary cap squeeze is unlikely to see the club add any more big names to their 2019 list.
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5820007/normans-postional-fate-in-mcgregors-hands/?cs=302
