Why Corey Norman will have to wait to make his London Broncos debut

London Broncos have confirmed the arrival of experienced playmaker Corey Norman for the remainder of the 2023 Championship season from France. 

The 32-year-old makes his first move to England from Lezignan, having been knocked out of the French Elite 1 semi-finals by eventual winners Limoux.

However, London Broncos are not expecting to see their star signing in action until the end of June against Batley at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium.

Why?

Norman was handed a massive eight-match suspension towards the end of the 2022 campaign that cut short his Toulouse stint in Super League.

He was banned on August 16 for a Grade F charge of other contrary behaviour, with Toulouse featuring in a further four matches after that.

The ex-NRL half-back was charged following the French side’s defeat to Warrington at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Super League.

He was placed on report by referee Chris Kendall after an allegation of inappropriate contact was made by then-Warrington forward Oliver Holmes

Norman was also fined £500 at the time. In the tribunal, Norman pleaded not guilty to the offence.

He missed games against Wigan, Catalans, Hull and St Helens and later joined French Elite 1 outfit Lezignan and linked up with two-time NRL winner James Maloney, who has since brought the curtain down on his illustrious career.

Norman is expected to be sidelined for games against Widnes, Bradford and Featherstone, while London’s 14-10 Summer Bash win over Toulouse also counted towards his remaining four games, having been registered prior to the fixture in York.

Former New Zealand international Dean Whare also made the move from the French Elite 1 competition to London Broncos for the remainder of the current season.

Corey Norman on Championship move

Norman made 11 appearances in his debut and only season to date in Super League with Toulouse under Sylvain Houles, having originally announced his retirement from the sport in 2021.

He arrived in Super League in April 2022 to fill the void left by the controversial departure of Johnathon Ford.

The former Brisbane, Parramatta and St George-Illawarra half-back made more than 200 appearances in the NRL between 2010 and 2021. 

On his move to London Broncos, Norman said: “I’ve decided to join the club because of the opportunity that the club has given me.

“I want to try add as much value to this club by helping to get back to where they need to be and it’s just exciting for me to come to London and experience it.”

Director of rugby and performance Mike Eccles added:“Corey is a world class operator and comes to us with vast experience at the highest level.

“After speaking to Corey and watching him play in the French competition, it was clear he still has a hunger to win and compete.

“If we want to keep improving and progressing as a team, it’s important we strengthen the squad and our attacking options.

Corey is equally at home in the halves or at full-back and we can’t wait to integrate him into the squad.”

READ NEXT: What next for Championship Summer Bash after attendance flop?