Brisbane: Former NRL bad boy Corey Norman has vowed to finally step up as a leader at Parramatta with Queensland jerseys up for grabs this year.

Ahead of his ninth NRL season, Norman – 27 next week – admitted it was time to take ownership of the Eels and stake a Maroons halves claim.

Ready to step up: Corey Norman. Credit:AAP

Norman is in the mix to fill the void left by the representative retirement of Queensland halves Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk after being included in the Emerging Maroons squad on the Gold Coast this weekend.

The Parramatta playmaker said the penny finally dropped that it was time to become a leader after being named in his first Emerging Maroons squad.