After all the controversy, Parramatta gave Corey Norman a pay rise. And they were right to do so
PAUL KENT, The Daily Telegraph
IN the past six months Corey Norman, off contract, has been busy.
He pleaded guilty to two minor drug charges. He filmed a sex tape and forgot to blush when he got extorted over it.
Police warned him for consorting with criminals and then there was the small matter of distributing a video of himself using drugs to other NRL players.
He finally got suspended by the NRL in time
to get himself a hefty payrise, a three-year deal worth $2.2 million.
And the funny thing is, the Eels did exactly what they should have done.
Norman is a real asset for Parramatta — on the field at least.
Good players win premierships, not blooming citizens.
Parramatta’s attack has been popgun without Norman. When Norman was teamed with Kieran Foran earlier in the season the Eels were true premiership contenders.
The lesson is clear. One is good, two are near unstoppable.
With Foran having since negotiated his release from the club the Eels are cashed up and ready to go to market for a halfback.
The Eels played it safe and extended Jeff Robson into next year but coach Brad Arthur would be crazy to rest for 12 months. They are not alone.
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has stuck by his troubled players.
St George Illawarra’s season failed because of an inability to score points, with it generally conceded that everyone but Canterbury the halves dictate the attack.
Benji Marshall won’t be there next season and the Dragons have the cash to find a halfback. Problem is, where do they go? There isn’t a halfback available.
Norman was the last established half available after Luke Keary signed with the Roosters for next season and Cooper Cronk re-signed with Melbourne.
If pickings are slim this year then next year is a smorgasbord.
Johnathan Thurston, Adam Reynolds, Gareth Widdop, Mitchell Pearce, Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford, Josh Reynolds, Jack Bird and Shaun Johnson have all played international or Origin footy and are all off contract at the end of 2017.
Also off contract will be Country Origin rep Tyrone Roberts and rising stars Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks, Ash Taylor, Connor Watson and Jackson Hastings.
Expect a feeding frenzy to take place. Not next season, though. It will happen long before then.
The Dragons have dropped Benji — now they have to find a replacement.
The Eels can’t afford to wait until next season and neither can the Dragons.
All good manners will be left at the door as both look to stiffen their rosters for next season — and not the season after.
Contracts have never been worth the hot air they’re spoken of and never more so in the NRL.
There has been a dozen players or thereabouts — like Konrad Hurrell, Junior Paulo, Elijah Taylor, Chris Grevsmuhl, Tariq Sims, Ryan Morgan, Joe Burgess, Nathan Peats, Joe Tapine — who will end this season in a different jersey than the one they began in.
With such a list of halfbacks soon to be on the market negotiations must begin immediately.
Parramatta now have cash and a Kieran Foran-shaped hole.
Norman is a wonderful talent and just how necessary he is to Parramatta was shown when he crucified his team’s season by getting himself suspended.
What small chance Parramatta had until that time was gone. Arthur continues to protect him, understandably.
He called Norman a “good kid” who made “bad decisions”, something we have all been guilty of. The trick is to learn from them.
More than his own career rests on his performances for the Eels.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...o/news-story/6fec062c22b614950ced918bc437f57c
