Andrew Johns believes Corey Norman is the heir apparent to the Queensland halves crown currently shared by Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.
Parramatta star Norman has been in dazzling form this season despite all the dramas at the Eels, and led them to another dramatic win over Sydney Roosters on Friday night.
With Maroons playmakers Thurston and Cronk close to retirement, Brisbane duo Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford, Daly Cherry-Evans and Moses Mbye have all been put forward as the those competing to be Queensland’s next generation of halves.
But in talking on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, Blues great Johns believes the next Maroons playmaker will be Norman.
“I think he has gone past a lot of those Queenland halves who are next in line to Cronk and Thurston,” Johns said.
“I think his form and with the way he plays if he got to that level and played five-eighth after all those freaks finish, he could slot straight in unfortunately for NSW.”
Dramas have surrounded the Eels for much of the NRL season, drug possession allegations against Norman and salary cap dramas notwithstanding, but the Eels five-eighth has continued to impress.
“He must have so much going on when he puts his head on his pillow to sleep. He must be fighting so many demons, so to keep the motivation to get out there and play the way he has shows how truly elite he is,” the champion halfback said.
MrJSquishy
Roar Pro
Personally, I'm stoked that DCE has slipped down the order. When NSW won their only series in the last decade in 2014, I put less of the culpability on Cronk's absence than I do on DCE's inclusion. I'm not saying he is a bad half (he's very good), but he is not the right 'fit' to be a part of the QLD team. He is very much a club player. Representative duty can really only come his way if he gets some combinations with other Queenslander's around him and, unfortunately, there are very few QLD players he plays (and will likely play) alongside at Manly. He will earn his 10 million dollars there and there alone...
Tom G
Guest
Is Johns basing this on his on field performance or all Johns like off field behaviour?
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Why? Sex isn't illegal
Muzz
Guest
I can't wait for his latest highlights reel to go viral and let's see how his punishment compares to Pearce. My bet - NRL = Inconsistency.
Agent11
Guest
QLD sure have some options in the halves when JT and cronk retire. I thought Norman was a dud when he left the Broncos but he has really come along.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Norman was brilliant on Friday night and has through this season pulled Parramatta through a couple of tough games. Definitely what you need in an Origin player. The only other thing I have with him though is his defensive lapses which can't be afforded on the Origin stage. That said Milford was exposed in defense badly by the Storm so at this point Norman would probably be ahead in terms of game management and running a team. I can't believe how far DCE has fallen in the pecking order as he was pretty much heir apparent a few years ago when he was on the bench role. For the halfback role they really need to look at Ashley Taylor, he has absolutely got the goods and just needs to get into that Qld system to get mentored by the likes of Cronk and JT to put the finishing touches on his game.
ferret
Guest
Yep. I'm amazed that Norman's name doesn't seem to get mentioned when discussing JT's & Cronk's replacements. Norman was fantastic the other night and has been very good all season.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
After what I saw on Friday night it's hard to argue with that .