Corey Norman

[noisetheory]

i think if wallace took it more upon himself to direct the team up the field but let hunt take more a the reigns in the attacking 30 it could work really well.

hunt with norman running around the back of him from FB looks really slick and smooth. storm really didnt give us much but i thought we looked good in attack on friday. its coming together.

wallace should just concentrate on 'less is more' and make sure the 5th tackle is a good option/percentages kick to the ingoal/wing.

 

[Alec]

Norman, at the moment at least, just doesn't seem to have the organisational skills or the creativity to be a half at the Broncos. He definitely seems like he'd make a great ball playing back rower, fullback or even centre though.

 

[Ari Gold]

As far as a halves spot goes I think Norman is a sandwich short of a picnic. He has a fair number of skills required, but definitely not all of them, which is why he can look so good at times and so poor at others. This is also why I keep saying that I like the idea of him at fullback - where as a half he's a bit short of the skills required, at fullback, or even centre, his skill level becomes an advantage.

He is most definitely a run first, pass second player though, and he should play in a role that is run first, pass second. He's got a good kicking game too, and there's no reason he can't use it from fullback, or even at centre the way Jamie Lyon kicks two passes deep.

 

[BRC088]

I think Wallace has been asked to do to much in defense, and in my opinion better at it than Hunt or Norman - I've always thought Wallace as a #6 and should have been switched there from day 1 after Locky retired and let Norman and Hunt battle it out for 7s. I'm not a Hunt fan but I think at the moment he's our best 7 playing with the #6. Macca has to be an 80min player to strengthen up the bench a bit more, you can always tell when he's off.

 

[vertigo]

I honestly think Wallace needs to either spend some time soul searching or needs to go altogether

Problem is we gave him a 2 year upgrade, should never upgrade someone mid-season unless they're threatening to quit on the spot.

 

[Big Pete]

Well, Wallace is practically in Lockyer's role.

These days halves are either side of the play the ball rather than being in a backline formation, Wallace has taken Locky's spot.

 

[Porthoz]

Like most people, I don't rate Norman as a 5/8. I can see him become really good at fullback though, as long as he can stay switched on for the whole 80 minutes consistently.
He has a hand of just disappearing from the game for periods, but having the freedom to chime in when he wants from the FB position, alongside his excellent support instinct and ability to break the line, I see him flourish as the custodian of the team.

Wallace will be better for having Hunt alongside him, as the youngster has a little bag of tricks that he still needs to hone, but will take much of Wallace's work away, especially in the last 30.

I feel bad for Hoffman, because I really like the kid, but he just doesn't have the instinct or ability to be a modern fullback. He could however turn into a great winger and/or centre, and Hodges won't last forever!

 

[Manifesto]

Like most people, I don't rate Norman as a 5/8. I can see him become really good at fullback though, as long as he can stay switched on for the whole 80 minutes consistently.
He has a hand of just disappearing from the game for periods, but having the freedom to chime in when he wants from the FB position, alongside his excellent support instinct and ability to break the line, I see him flourish as the custodian of the team.

Wallace will be better for having Hunt alongside him, as the youngster has a little bag of tricks that he still needs to hone, but will take much of Wallace's work away, especially in the last 30.

I feel bad for Hoffman, because I really like the kid, but he just doesn't have the instinct or ability to be a modern fullback. He could however turn into a great winger and/or centre, and Hodges won't last forever!

I agree, I always though Hunt was a better half than Norman and wanted him starting for the whole year. I am still not totally convinced Norman is a long-term FB option yet, though will more practice and expeirence in the position, he should improve. It is clear that our attack has improved immensely since Hunt has come into the halves and Norman back to FB. However, all this talk about Norman and Hoffman situation does make the decision to let Beale go seem rather foolish, as I personnally beleive that Beale is a better FB than both Norman and Hoffman

 

[Son Edo]

I feel bad for Hoffman, because I really like the kid, but he just doesn't have the instinct or ability to be a modern fullback. He could however turn into a great winger and/or centre, and Hodges won't last forever!

Yeah I agree, Beads said something about Hoffman replacing Hodges when he retires. Putting Hoffman their could be something special. I reckon he'd play in the same style that Hodges does.

 

[OXY-351]

I think Norman would make a good winger as he wouldn't be required to pass the ball to anyone

 

[Bucking Beads]

I think Norman would make a good winger as he wouldn't be required to pass the ball to anyone

Wasted on the wing IMO and I don't really see him as a finisher of tries.

 

[Huge]

There is a tendency on this forum to write people off without knowing all the circumstances that can affect performances. Lockyer said that Norman has a groin injury. An injury of that nature would hamper a person doing the most mundane of daily chores. Hardly surprising then it has hindered his form which as far as I could tell was pretty fair prior to the injury.

It may also have sapped his confidence and as he is very young, the constant carping may have got to him a bit. Of course that's all we see but what if something else is going on in the young mans life. Who knows ? Getting a public wrap from Lockyer (commenting on his specialist field) may have been a boon to Norman.

Norman could be struggling off field, anyone could be for that matter and you may not even have a clue from their demeanor. Peter Jackson springs to mind. Norman may yet prove to be a world class 5/8....

 

[Alec]

Norman was a very good ball runner in the early parts of the season, but he never really struck me as an organiser or a genuine ball player. That's got more to do with how you think than it does with your groin.

 

[Kimlo]

Norman was a very good ball runner in the early parts of the season, but he never really struck me as an organiser or a genuine ball player. That's got more to do with how you think than it does with your groin.

LOL, that gave me a good laugh.

 

[Huge]

easily amused.....imagine the fun with a stick and piece of string.....to you Alec, fair enough. It's just that people who have played the game at the highest levels seem to think Norman has ability....and I don't simply mean Lockyer. An injury can affect the way you think(hilarious as that sounds to broncospwm).....also he was told from the start to KISS instead of trying to emulate Lockyer. Anyways,time will tell and I have faith in the better(than me!) judges

 

[Kimlo]

easily amused.....imagine the fun with a stick and piece of string.....to you Alec, fair enough. It's just that people who have played the game at the highest levels seem to think Norman has ability....and I don't simply mean Lockyer. An injury can affect the way you think(hilarious as that sounds to broncospwm).....also he was told from the start to KISS instead of trying to emulate Lockyer. Anyways,time will tell and I have faith in the better(than me!) judges

As I've already said, I don't particularly care what Locky says, that's not to say I don't think he's an astute judge but what you say in a public column is one thing and what you really think is another. Besides who's right, Griffin or Lockyer? Griffin seems to think he isn't a 6 at this point in the time and you can't argue that we haven't been better with Norman in the 1 instead of the 6 jersey.

 

[noisetheory]

im still confident norman will be great for the broncs in the long term. not exactly sure what position it will be.

the kid can throw a good pass. he has the skills. his decision making just isnt there yet. for now i think his best spot is going to be FB.

 

[Steve]

I see a role for Norman at the back in the coming years with an eventual move to lock forward as he gradually bulks up. To me he just looks more comfortable down back at the moment and he can at least trouble the defence with his angled running close to the try line (unlike Hoffman who has lost this aspect of his game).

He also has to play a role going forward with our general field kicking. Our inability to find the grass on the 5th tackle (we hit the fullback/wingers on the full pretty much all night on Friday) just makes it that much harder. Norman seems to get more purchase on his kicks than Wallace and Hunt so I'd like to see him kicking for distance a lot more.

Having said all of that I wouldn't be surprised to see Norman back in the halves this week. Griffen seems to view him as the long term replacement. The team announcement tomorrow will be very interesting.