Parramatta coach Brad Arthur says the club remains committed to retaining suspended star Corey Norman as the troubled 25-year-old considers a lucrative contract offer from the Dragons.
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Norman is not short on options despite being stood-down for eight games and fined $20,000 by the NRL on Thursday, a week after pleading guilty to drug possession.
In a statement released on Thursday, the NRL also pointed to a police warning for consorting with known criminals and the circulation of a sex tape allegedly involving Norman as reasons for the sanction.
It was thought the suspension and the turmoil surrounding the Eels could deliver Norman to the Dragons but Arthur said on Friday that the club remains committed to retaining the off-contract star beyond this season.
"We want him to be at our club long term. I've got a lot of time for Corey," Arthur said on Friday.
The NRL may insist on behavioural clauses and rehabilitation measures before registering any contract for Norman’s services. It’s a process the Dragons have previously worked through in resurrecting the careers of Josh Dugan and Russell Packer.
Coach Paul McGregor did not confirm any contract offer to Norman but said the club’s efforts with Dugan and Packer in the past showed misbehaving stars can be successfully rehabilitated.
“We went through the same process with Russell [Packer] and Josh Dugan and co,” McGregor said.
“Whatever they deal with we just have to manage it and certainly those players who’ve come through our club have handled it really well. Josh has been exceptional since he’s been here and Russell’s had a breakout year back after not playing footy for three years and he’s been a model citizen.”
Robbie Farah, who was unceremoniously dumped to reserve grade by Tigers coach Jason Taylor this week, is another player to have been linked to the Dragons with incumbent rake Mitch Rein still unsigned for next season.
McGregor admitted he was surprised to hear of Farah’s dumping but said he’s more focused on beating the Tigers on Sunday without him than bringing him to the Dragons.
“I think everyone’s being linked to us at the moment. I’ll leave that with our recruitment guys, I’m just focusing on coaching,” McGregor said.
“[Farah’s axing] was a bit of a surprise, he’s a quality hooker and he was only playing Origin two weeks ago but it’s nothing we can control.
“For us it’s just about our focus, not what Wests Tigers are doing. Obviously we’ve got to watch what type of footy they’re playing because we’re going against them but [Taylor’s] selection is not my concern.