BRISBANE'S decision to drop their pursuit of Johnathan Thurston has backfired, with the club set to lose their best young backline talent Corey Norman to Parramatta next season. On the same day Thurston confirmed he would stay at North Queensland on a $5 million four-year deal, Norman was tipped to be on the verge of announcing he would head to the Eels in 2014 on a deal worth more than $400,000 a year.
Given Brisbane's recruitment strategy has been based around retaining their group of young stars, losing Norman would be an enormous blow as they would need to groom a new playmaker.
The Broncos, who refused to comment about Norman's possible defection yesterday, believe they are still a chance to retain the 21-year-old.
Norman's manager Paul Sutton spoke to the club yesterday and said no contract had been finalised with the Eels.
"There's always speculation," Sutton said.
"We are still talking to the Broncos. Nothing has been agreed."
The Eels have endured a major run of recruitment disappointments, including Josh Papalii backing out of his deal last week, and will no doubt move heaven and earth to ensure Norman is not another potential star to slip from their grasp. Just 12 months ago Norman was anointed as Brisbane's successor to Darren Lockyer, and a future Origin fixture, forming a halves partnership with Peter Wallace the club hoped would carry them into the future.
