Norman blow adds to an Eels shocker
Johnathan Thurston, the halfback’s right knee also represents a huge blow for an Eels outfit that captain Tim Mannah conceded was “embarrassed” in a 48-10 loss at Allianz Stadium.
Indeed, the Eels will now be desperate to see disgruntled Wests Tigers star Mitchell Moses granted an early release to join them, with the team already having shifted starting No.6 Clint Gutherson to fullback, as a replacement for injured custodian Bevan French.
While a grade two medial is usually considered a four to six week injury, Parramatta coach Brad Arthur last night tipped his star No.7 to be out for no more than a month
“We’re thinking four weeks,’’ he said.
“Corey’s going to need scans yet before we can be sure but, yeah, four weeks.”
As for the club now upping its push for Moses, who wants
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10 B Ferguson 3 D Tupou 2 J Friend J Manu L Mitchell; tries M Gordon 8 goals C Gutherson M Jennings tries; C Gutherson goal out of the “That’s out Arthur said.
“That’s up to the Tigers. But there’s plenty of things we need to get right before then. There was a bigger blow for us today and it wasn’t Corey Norman.
“We got outmuscled. Tigers ASAP? of my control,’’
“The physicality, we weren’t in it. We got outplayed in every aspect of the game. They were just too good for us.”
With Thurston still unsure for Origin I, Norman went into the Roosters game as one of four potential replacements – along with Daly Cherry-Evans, Michael Morgan and Anthony Milford.
Origin greats Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have said they would have the Eels No.6 in their Maroons side if Thurston’s out. Yet that was dashed when, with 29 minutes to play, Norman on the ground clutching at his knee.