The Parramatta Eels are preparing to take on the Gold Coast Titans in Round 24 of the NRL Telstra Premiership and Blue & Gold five eighth Corey Norman says the side is ready to move on quickly following last week’s defeat to the Gold Coast Titans.
After a honest review session with Head Coach Brad Arthur, Norman says the Blue & Gold are focused on the Titans this week.
“It was a pretty honest review session, BA gave us a bit of a spray and we have now moved on and are now looking at the Titans,” Norman said.
“We had plenty to play for, and that wasn’t us the other night. We copped a spray during video but we will move on.”
“I don’t want to take anything away from the Newcastle Knights performance because they came down and outplayed us in everything. It was as simple as that.“
“It is hard to stay up (after winning six in a row), but in saying that, there was no excuse for us not to win last week as well but we didn’t.” Norman added.
“The Knights just rolled us, it was a good game by them, and we have had our review and we are moving on.”
Despite their position on the ladder, and plenty of media hype around their off-field distractions and Jarryd Hayne’s return to take on the Eels, Norman knows the Titans will be a tough opposition this week.
“What are the distractions? We are not worried about them, we are worried about us after last week,” Norman said.
“The Titans they play for eighty minutes all the time and we are expecting them to come down here and do the same.”
“I don’t really think about that [Jarryd playing Parramatta for the first time], I am more worried about the whole team. They have strike across the park, and we need to look at our own game after last week so that’s what we are worried about.” He added.
Last week’s loss will provide the opportunity for the Eels to refocus ahead of this week’s clash, and Norman says the side needs to get back to what they were doing previously.
“They are going to throw everything at us and we just have to be ready for that and be mentally prepared for it.” Norman said.
“We definitely would of wanted to win [last week], but we can refocus now and get back to what we were doing.”
With fullback Bevan French unavailable last week, Norman expects the livewire fullback to return this week.
“Bevan trained today which is good and he is looking sharp so I am expecting him to play this week.”
Norman also said the side was purely focused on the Blue & Gold and the players currently at the Club, rather than the media’s questions surrounding Jarryd Hayne.
“I don’t really read into the media so I don’t know that much about it.”
“He was fine here, that’s all I can say. I don’t know what is going on up there.”
“I don’t think about that stuff and if it happened that would be for Brad and the board.” Norman added.
“I am happy with the team we have here and I am focused on the team we have here.”
