HE is the Bronco who got away, the man groomed to replace Darren Lockyer as Brisbanes five-eighth. Now Corey Norman has finally revealed why he left Red Hill for the wooden-spoon-holding Parramatta.
Norman should still be at Brisbane, the club he signed with at age 13, instead he is Parramattas key to defeating the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
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Normans Broncos career ended in reserve grade, toiling away for Wynnum Manly after being dropped halfway through the 2013 season.
His form was inconsistent that season, but he was also bulked up to weigh 97kg, seven more than his playing weight at the Eels.
Norman says he had to make a decision about his future. Source: News Limited
He has become a consistent star for Parramatta at five-eighth and is now a leader at the fast-improving club, tasked with organising their backline.
Norman has previously declined to speak about his departure from Brisbane, but admitted to The Courier-Mail last night he was frustrated at the Broncos.
But he said the main the main reason he left was because he was uncertain whether the club even wanted him after signing former Queensland halfback Scott Prince.
Prince ultimately retired at the end of the 2013 season.
When Norman left, Brisbane signed Ben Barba as their five-eighth for 2014 in a move that failed for both parties.
Norman said he was relishing the prospect of tackling his old Red Hill mates this Saturday, but stressed there was no ill-will towards the club.
Yeah there was frustration (with the Broncos) but I wanted to play in the halves and I didnt know what Scott Prince was going to do
whether he would stay another year, Norman said.
I didnt know what other players were doing and I had to make a decision. I think they saw me as a fullback anyway.
I couldnt lock down the halves spot and the Eels offered me a chance to come down and do that.
It is always fun coming up against your mates, and I am still friends with a lot of the boys up there, so Im looking forward to it.
Norman has benefited from losing weight and regaining his dynamism. Source: News Corp Australia
Norman said he is a better player now than when he quit the Broncos.
I have grown up a bit now, he said.
I am more mature. I was only 21, 22 in Brisbane and I didnt think preparation came into it, but I now realise it has a big role to play.
Norman is now 24 and has proven the Broncos should have persevered with him in the position, which is what they are now doing with Anthony Milford.
Norman played the majority of 2012 as Brisbanes five-eighth before being demoted to the bench, shifted to fullback then back to five-eighth all in the final six rounds.
In 2013 he played exclusively at fullback. He signed with Parramatta in late March and was sent to Wynnum Manly in July.
He arrived at the Eels the size of a second-rower and was quickly ordered to strip the weight.
I was 97 kilos, maybe heavier. I am 90 or 91 now, and 97 was too heavy for me, Norman said.
That is a big part of it (improvement). I feel a lot better and more energetic at a lighter weight.
