How Good is Norman?

Player%20Stats%20JT%20v%20CN%202016.xlsx

Last year was probably Norman's best year for us and each year he has been getting better. But really how good is he?

If you look at the stats, and I have included a comparison between him and the best, JT, Norman is as good as or better than him in nearly every category. However stats only tell part of the story. Their leadership both on and off the field is where there is a huge difference.

To me Norman is a adolescent boy in a man's body. Who in their right mind would think no harm would come by holding someone else's drugs on yourself when entering a casino? If it's not good enough for him to carry why would it be good enough for you? Who in their right mind would consent to being recorded while having sex? Doing stupid things that jeopardises a job you love that pays you massive dollars and putting your future at risk.

If Norman can cut out this stupid stuff and start showing real leadership qualities he has the ability to be as good as JT by the time he hangs up the boots.

PS: Parra has shown they don't rely on Norman as much as the Cowboys do with JT. Parra can win games without CN whereas Cowboys generally do not without JT.

Poppa, I agree with you on this in regards to JT. I love the fella's ability and the little things like giving his headgear to kids at half time and full time, not just to Cows fans either. His play is top, and so is his larrikinism. In fact there is so much to like about him that can make me puke at times. But I think he gets away with things for a few reasons.

1: And I hate saying this, what is his heritage? Nothing more or less. He is a proud indigenous person and I totally respect that and so he should be, but! he and some other profile people are prepared to claim immunity against comments and the like about their heritage but, pretty good at reversing the situation as it suits.

2: His profile alone means he gets a lot more leeway that others do in what he says and handles things.

3: He plays the victim perfectly when things go wrong against him and the team, has he ever been fined for on or off field comments?

4: He is not alone in these areas either.

"TDS is still young, with plenty of improvement left in him. He could still play Flegg in 2026 ffs. And despite being two years younger than Ryley Smith, he has played nine more NRL games."

"HFK, Fair point. Sure, we could. But balancing incoming youth with experience is almost a perennial issue. A constant cycle. It never really goes away. At least not for too long. "

Replies

Thooper Dooper Maltese Sparrow December 5, 2016 at 9:03am

Hopefully the off field stuff is left in last season and let's not forget the JT at Coffs Harbour cover up?
Norman was in the form of his life prior to his suspension which made it all the harder to take as a fan.
Next season really is a make or break year for Corey, both as a player and a man IMO.
I think it was a game vs the roosters his last game, his short kicking game set up a couple of tries and his passing game was top shelf. One of the best individual performances I have seen from an eels half in a very long time.
- macybrown > Thooper Dooper Maltese Sparrow December 5, 2016 at 9:34am
  
  x 100.Exactly humph. Was going to say the Same thing about normz' last game for us. Was the best for us by a country mile. His kick game was superb in that one as well. Didn't think he had it in him actually.
  
  Now why was that?
colin hussey December 5, 2016 at 10:01am

Poppa, I agree with you on this in regards to JT. I love the fella's ability and the little things like giving his headgear to kids at half time and full time, not just to Cows fans either. His play is top, and so is his larrikinism. In fact there is so much to like about him that can make me puke at times. But I think he gets away with things for a few reasons.

1: And I hate saying this, what is his heritage? Nothing more or less. He is a proud indigenous person and I totally respect that and so he should be, but! he and some other profile people are prepared to claim immunity against comments and the like about their heritage but, pretty good at reversing the situation as it suits.

2: His profile alone means he gets a lot more leeway that others do in what he says and handles things.

3: He plays the victim perfectly when things go wrong against him and the team, has he ever been fined for on or off field comments?

4: He is not alone in these areas either.
Steve December 5, 2016 at 10:03am

He is the best half we've had in a long time. Great player.
Prof. Daz December 5, 2016 at 11:40am

It's interesting to compare Norman in two contrasting games from 2016. When we thrashed Canberra with Norman and Foran together, and when we came back to beat the Roosters with just Norman leading the way. In both games Norman took the ball right to the defensive line, but in the Raiders game he passed and in the Roosters game he kicked (for breaks/tries). What we need from Norman as the dominant playmaker is to consistently take the line on, but whether he can sustain that when targeted ALL YEAR is doubtful.
Should we thus expect more kick-based attack like the Roosters game? Or will the Eels get a half to take some pressure off him, allowing more potent pass-based attack, like the first Raiders game? If we think back to Foran and Norman often passing to each other, lining up on the same side of the field like half and 5/8 used to do, surely BA is inclined to try to replicate that because of how dangerous Norman became due to the uncertainty created by two halves combining?
Steve December 5, 2016 at 11:45am

I know this chick from Coffs Harbour who knows Norman. She said he is much better than Thurston.

Oh baboom.
Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" December 5, 2016 at 9:36pm

Good question - just how good is Norman?

We have seen the worst of him and we have seen the best - if he maintains consistency at his top level then he will be remembered as "one of the best"

Consistency has been a bit of a problem for him.

I would not yet rank him in the top 5 halves or 5/8s in the game, probably rank him around 7th or 8th.

I still go back to Snake's evaluation earlier in the year - there are times when he does look like a Deer in the headlights.
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown December 5, 2016 at 9:52pm

Glenn hes proven me wrong on the park the last few years but he's miles apart from JT and always will be, JT will be an immortal and deservedly so, even without Corey's dramas he's never going to be in that league, but hes proved me wrong before, take my opinion with a grain of salt on this one haha
Big Dave December 5, 2016 at 10:41pm

If he qualified for NSW he would have played State of Origin this year. On form this year I would have him above DCE, but behind Thurston, Cronk and Morgan, therefore the top 4 halves going around.
- Ham Sammich > Big Dave December 5, 2016 at 11:18pm
  
  Whenever I've seen the cowboys play it seems like Coote plays more like a "half" than Morgan does. He takes more of the kicks and has a similar ball playing role on the left with Morgan on the right. The cowboys do have a structure very different to the other 15 teams in the competition.