The Dyldam Parramatta Eels have come away with a 26-20 victory over the Penrith Panthers in the Round 12 clash at Pepper Stadium on Friday 29 May and Eels five-eighth Corey Norman was happy but still focused on the Eels job at hand after the game.
“It is a good feeling and all the boys are having a good time in the sheds but in saying that, we still have next week,” Norman said.
Norman was one of the Eels best on ground as he continued his string of strong performances in 2015.
Norman controlled and steered the Blue and Gold around the park, along with causing indecisiveness in the Panthers defence, as he took on the line to earn 151 running metres which included two line breaks.
Coming into the match, the Eels were confident, and Norman said the side felt like the win was coming.
“It felt like the win was coming,” Norman said.
“We have been confident for weeks now and we know the effort has been there and turning up each week and we just needed that polish at the end there which we got tonight which is a good sign.”
The Eels earnt an early 12-0 lead as they came out of the blocks firing but when the score read 14-all, Norman said the mood out on the ground had not changed.
The side remained confident and were able to stop the Panthers momentum and swing things around to score two tries and regain a lead before holding out to come away with the two points.
“When they started to come back the boys stuck solid and we just knew that we had to get the ball and things would turn,” Norman said.
“It did that and we closed the game out which was good.”
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
The Eels will take on the North Queensland Cowboys on Monday 8 June at Pirtek Stadium for their Round 13 clash after their ten-day turnaround, which Norman welcomed.
“The 10-day break is good,” Norman said.
“We have been busting our behinds off for about a month now so this break has come at the right time and leading up to our clash with the Cowboys, I think they are nine in a row, so it is going to be a tough one.”
Eels Head Coach Brad Arthur credited Norman’s performance after the game.
“I think Corey Norman has been very good for us of late,” Arthur said.
“He has been sticking to the plan well and really controlling the team, which allows Chris to play a bit more off the cuff.”
“Corey is a big part of it. If Corey can steer the team around and the boys respond to Corey it gives Chris a bit of freedom.”
