Parramatta Eels five-eighth Corey Norman admits he's had discussions with coach Brad Arthur about concerns over his professionalism off the field.
The Queenslander is enjoying life in Sydney since leaving the Brisbane Broncos at the end of 2013 - sometimes too much, he admits with a smile beaming across his face.
While Arthur does not have an issue with Norman's application on the training paddock or on game day, the Eels' No.6 concedes some of his lifestyle choices need to improve.
"He does have a chat with me here and there, and it's more to do what I do off the field than what I do on the field," Norman said of Arthur.
"He just wants me to be a bit more professional in what I do off the field. He's a good coach who always looks after his players.
"I just sometimes on the weekend get a bit carried away. I've definitely taken it on board. It is [hard] sometimes. I'm new to Sydney and I just want to have a look around and stuff like that. He's only looking out for me and that's what a coach does."
While the temptations of Sydney and the lifestyle of an NRL footballer are hardly career-threatening matters, there are things bubbling along at Parramatta that may just have huge ramifications on his playing future.
None stand to lose more from the Eels' interest in Kieran Foran than Norman.
But as he prepares to line up against the man on top of the club's wish list on Friday night at Pirtek Stadium, the 24-year-old insists he isn't concerning himself with the possibility of the Kiwi superstar replacing him at Parramatta next season.
"It's obviously no secret that he might be coming here," Norman said.
"All I have to do is worry about myself and my footy and not worry about that. When I have to worry about it, I will. I can't mope about it to be honest. I just have to move on and play good footy. If he comes, he comes. I'll worry about that when it happens."
The mouth-watering round-one clash between arch rivals Parramatta and Manly will also mark Anthony Watmough's first game in blue and gold against his former club.
Watmough has been critical of his old club since leaving the Sea Eagles at the end of last season, but Arthur insists the veteran back-rower won't get caught up in emotion against his ex-teammates.
"We've had a chat about him needing to channel his focus to this football team now and moving forward, especially for this game," Arthur said.
"As soon as this game is over there'll be no more talk about Manly. I just think he wants to come to Parramatta - whether we were playing Manly or the Warriors first game - I just think he wants to open his account with a win. It will be nice against Manly, but I don't think it'll be the driving factor.
"He's ready, he's been ready for a long time. We didn't play him in most of the trials. He was itching to get a run but we reduced him to just 40 or 50 minutes against Manly, so he's raring to go."
After two straight wooden spoons, the Eels climbed off the bottom of the ladder last season only to miss the finals following a horror end to the regular season.
But Norman insists Parramatta know anything short of a semi-finals appearance will be a disappointment in 2015.
"I don't want to put too much pressure on us, because it's only early days," he said.
"But definitely making the top eight will be one of our goals ... I have to step up a bit more now. It's my second year here and I'm very familiar with everything now. I'm looking for a big year. With a player like Jarryd Hayne leaving, everyone has to step up."
Replies
Corey will have a decent game tonight to try and prove a point against the bloke who could take his spot, he always starts off a season ok, but after 2 or 3 games its all downhill.
If he cant have a big one tonight, he never will.
He certainly doesnt have to do much to impress some eels fans, if he throws a good pass or puts 1 good kick in people will say what a great game Corey, our bar is set so low at parra in the halves that most fans are happy with one good moment from them per game.
Last year while Peats was still playing, Peats, Hayne and Norman were the 3 onfield leaders. Everything revolved around them. It was obvious that BA had given them that leadership role, especially in attack.
Hopoate was another who was doing stacks of little things to contribute rather than seeking to be a one man team. Take out Norman and Hoppa and Jarryd would not have had the space and the opportunities he had.
LOL At the first line.
Nothing revolved around Corey last year, yes ive noticed his screaming in the back play, he has to look like he is doing something apart from waiving his support behind his back.
Camo, pop over to the Broncos HQ forum, a very astute poster names Clydesdale has a blog atm asking Broncs fans if they want him back, read the replies, mate they wouldnt take norman for free.
Rumours are that Bennett wants him back at the broncs on the cheap, he wont get offered a deal by anybody else but a spoon team
If our attack revolves around corey how would we score more than one try a game if that.
The bloke is totally lost for answers in the oppostion 30m Sandow has to carry him, we have to use a guy like Paulo to work as an additional 5/8 because Corey offers so little, and no doubt BA knows it.
I think you will find the smart RL judge could see Norman offered zero before he came, and he has zero field presence and is so predictable he is a dream for opposition coaches to draw up a game plan against.
Ive never seen him outplay his opposition 5/8 ive never seen him take a game by the scruff of the neck and dominate, his on field aura and presence is non existant.
Ive never seen him stand up when the chips are down and inspire anything, ive never seen him get us or the broncs out of trouble and win a game, he can shout at the guys all day, he has no authority or aura, nobody will e taking it in, and if i was standing around doing nothing on the park id be shouting out instructions too he might as well look like he is doing SOMETHING.
He is a very slow decision maker and has no vision or anticipation, they are requirments of any 5/8
He does the absolute minimum required of a 5/8, without a doubt the worst 5/8 in the comp and ive got no doubt he is holding the team back.
His talents are;
Good Pass
Hands are ok
he can hit a gap
Maybe 1/15 of his bombs on the opposition line might come off, but i'd call that the law of averages
Very good passenger
Less than bare minimum for a 1st grade 5/8 in this day and age.
This is probably the best summary of Norman's game I have read. You have absolutely nailed it Snake. Norman is definitely not the answer no matter how bad we want him to be.I follow Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane comp and I saw Norman first hand after he was dropped at the Bronco's and he didn't even shine there-although at fullback. If we don't get Foran let's all hope Matterson is the answer over the next couple of years.
Cheers Dasher mate, i had the exact same opinion of him before we signed him like you did and at the time called him a worse signing than Adam Dykes, i was attacked by all comers but he has proven me correct.
He is just not aware enough to play a halves role, not now or ever.
Our standards as eels fans are just so low, these are the same people who are arguing that Justin Poore was a good player when we bought him, i was crying blue murder when we signed the pea heart, his few games for NSW were a pea hearted embarrassment.
Same goes for Reni Maitua, i called him as being an oxygen theif on the park with zero to offer on or off the park when we were in talks with him, i death rode him from the start, as i knew i was right, Corey falls under the same banner, i copped it on here for death riding him, but who was right?
Its been so many decades since we have had real quality halves that people have forgot a halves job, they forget the dynamics a good half/5/8 brings, we are so happy with mediocrity at parra, and Norman is below mediocre, i mean BA has to play an extra 5/8 in Paulo because corey offers nothing, its fekking embarrassing.
Corey will have 3 or 4 first grade standard games this season, usually due to poor opposition, we need halves who put in 26 first grade standard matches a year.
Watching Norman and Paulo play off each other is like watching two drugged mud crabs doing a mating dance in a muddy mangrove, its not fekking pretty or effective, theres a lot of waiving and flaying the arms around and lots of sideways movement, a lot of blowing bubbles and foaming at the mouth, its like monty python without the humour.
So your love affair with Norman is now over Snake. lol
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