Jun 25th, 2018

Jun 25th, 2018

Norman and Eels to part company

Take it as read the Corey Norman won’t be at the Eels next season - and the big-spending Knights are making a move to sign the troubled playmaker.

Despite his obvious talent, Norman has burned his bridges at the Eels and the club is prepared to cut him loose for 2019 - if not sooner.

(AAP) Corey Norman might be heading to Newcastle to continue his career. (AAP)

His old club Brisbane remains an option, but the Knights are making a sneaky bid to entice him up the F3 freeway.

Norman has plenty of talent but has under-performed this year - and his continual off-field ‘issues’ have proved too much for the Eels to tolerate.

Carty party to end at Titans?

My scoop last week on the Titans trying to offload marquee signing Bryce Cartwright just months into a rich four-year deal has caused plenty of comment.

As always, there is more behind it than Cartwright’s poor off-field form.

Titans officials haven’t been impressed with the utility star’s application to training and rehab in his brief time at the club.

(AAP) Bryce Cartwright might have to head to England to revive his career. (AAP)

He also recently bought a Range Rover for his partner from a rival dealership to Titans chairman Rebecca Frizelle and posted it on social media - and it went down like a lead balloon.

I’m hearing there is little interest in Cartwright from rival NRL clubs and he may need to have a stint in England to revive his sagging career.

Souths sign son of Tigers legend

Souths have signed promising back-rower Bayley Sironen from Wests Tigers for next season.

The younger brother of Manly star Curtis Sironen, and son of Tigers legend Paul Sironen, Bayley played a couple of top grade games last season.

(AAP) South Sydney has signed Bayley Sironen, the son of Balmain legend Paul Sironen. (AAP)

A 21-year-old former Australian Schoolboy, Sironen hasn’t been able to get a look-in at the Tigers this year but made the NSW Residents team last week.

He will be one of several players vying for Angus Crichton’s spot in the pack next season following his decision to link up with the Roosters.

Panthers face battle to keep gun assistant

Former Roosters fullback and NRL ref Luke Phillips was a key man in NSW’s winning game plans against Queensland.

Now an assistant coach at Penrith, Phillips has a unique perspective on the game having been both a top-level player and referee.

He has an intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the individual referees, and that is one of the main reasons the smart ‘Gus’ Gould signed him at Penrith.

(AAP) Former Sydney Roosters fullback Luke Phillips has been a valuable addition to the Panthers coaching staff. (AAP)

But the word is out about Phillips - and the Tigers, Dragons and Eels have all made subtle inquiries about his availability for 2019.

He is enjoying the job at the Panthers - but it will cost Gus a decent pay rise to keep him on board.