Josh Dugan will meet with the Broncos today. Picture: Ray Strange Source: The Daily Telegraph
Josh Dugan in action in round one for the Raiders. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
EXCLUSIVE: BRISBANE are poised to immediately offset Corey Norman's defection to Parramatta, with axed Raider Josh Dugan travelling to Broncos HQ to inspect the club's facilities this week.
Norman yesterday announced he'd signed a three-year deal to join the Eels next season, triggering a ripple effect through the recruitment market.
His departure frees up money for the Broncos to stave off interest from St George Illawarra and secure Dugan on a healthy long-term deal.
The Daily Telegraph understands the 22-year-old plans to meet Broncos officials from today, after flying north yesterday.
Now resigned to missing Dugan, the winless Dragons - who have scored just six tries from three outings - are focusing all their energy on recruiting a new playmaker to remedy their attacking woes.
Gold Coast understudy Jordan Rankin is understood to be closest to signing, but overtures have been made to Newcastle prodigy Tyrone Roberts and Castleford's Rangi Chase.
And in a worrying sign for under-fire coach Steve Price, recruitment manager Craig Young and CEO Peter Doust have been doing the lion's share of recent negotiations.
According to player agents involved with negotiations at St George Illawarra, Price has been less hands-on in recent weeks as his future falls into deeper uncertainty with each defeat.
Until Norman put pen to paper, the Eels had also been struggling to land decent recruitment since signing Chris Sandow almost two years ago.
But Brisbane's decision to resurrect Scott Prince's career at the expense of Norman's development at five eighth proved the deal-maker for Parramatta.
Having not hidden his desire to succeed Darren Lockyer as Brisbane's long-term five eighth, Norman was nonplussed about moving to fullback to accommodate the 33-year-old veteran this year.
And with Dugan odds-on to join the Broncos within the next week, he could battle to play either position.
But that won't be the case in 2014 at Parramatta, who've been desperately seeking a five-eighth to partner Sandow all off-season.
Their talks with Norman began around Christmas, and Brisbane did themselves few favours with a modest first-up offer. The Broncos responded with better money, but couldn't compete with Parramatta's $1.2 million deal, and, more importantly, the guarantee of wearing the No.6 jersey.
In return, Norman yesterday gave jittery Eels fans a promise he would not exploit the round 13 contractual loophole and repeat Josh Papalii's devastating backflip.
"I understand that under the NRL rules I have until round 13 to change my mind, but I just wanted Eels members, fans and sponsors to know that I will be standing 100 per cent by my decision to make the move to Sydney," he said.
"I have made a commitment and I will see that commitment and contract through."
Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart is still to settle on a permanent five-eighth for this season, with Ben Roberts, Joseph Paulo and Luke Kelly all sharing the role.
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