PARRAMATTA playmaker Corey Norman isn’t expected to play again this season as the NRL and Eels come down hard on the troubled star.

Norman was stood down last week and again been overlooked by Brad Arthur ahead of the Eels’ round 20 clash against the Gold Coast.

Meanwhile, it appears the Roosters have found Mitchell Pearce the perfect foil in the halves.

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Round 20

NORMAN TO BE HIT HARD

Corey Norman has returned to training with Parramatta after being stood down by the club after he pleaded guilty to drug offences in court last week.

However, Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter says not to link his return to training with a return to the field, with the star playmaker set to face a ban that could extend to the end of the season.

Speaking on NRL Tonight, Hooper said he expected the NRL to take a “hard line” with Norman after several unsavoury incidents involving the Eels player this year.

Parramatta Eels NRL player Corey Norman leaves the Downing Centre court in Sydney. Source: AAP

“Obviously we know with Corey he was issued a warning for consorting with criminals at that Chinese dinner at Star City casino, the same night he was then found in possession of drugs he has since pleaded guilty to in a court of law,” Hooper said.

“Then of course we’ve got that video that’s got everyone behind the scenes talking about it.

“Certainly I think from an NRL point-of-view they believe enough is enough.

“ ... I don’t think we’ll see him again this season.”

However mystery still surrounds how the punishment will be handed down, with Norman still yet to front the NRL Integrity Unit, according to Hooper.

“Not quite sure exactly why Corey hasn’t fronted head office but as it sits at the moment there’s a little bit of a stand off going on.”

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CHOOKS FIND THE MAN TO PAIR PEARCE

One of the Roosters’ biggest issues in a troubled season has been finding a five-eighth to pair Mitchell Pearce with after the departure of James Maloney in the off-season.

Jackson Hastings showed immense potential last season but has fallen out of favour at the club, while Jayden Nikorima and Ryan Matterson have shown their potential only in flashes.

Speaking on NRL Tonight, Fox Sports commentator Jimmy Smith said Connor Watson’s game against the Sharks, which included a highlight reel try, had put him at the front of the queue.

“He has a lot of those things that no matter what you are as a coach, you can’t coach them,” Smith said.

“His try against the Sharks reminded me of that Craig Wing try he scored against the Sharks in 1999. He was a 19-year-old and he came out and he beat four great defenders.

“Watson’s try isn’t quite in that class but it was a really good effort. Fast on his feet - he plays five-eighth in the 20s and I’m not sure he’s strictly a five-eighth.

“He might even be a hooker, when he gets out of dummy half you could imagine how much trouble he will cause there for defences.

“When you look at the other five-eighth options at the Roosters - Jackson Hastings, Ryan Matterson - when you look at Connor Watson’s performance last night it puts him ahead of those guys.”

MENINGA: IT WILL STOP IN CAMP

Despite one of the most bitter endings to an Origin series in memory, Mal Meninga has played down concerns that the divide between NSW and Queensland will bleed into the Kangaroos set up for the Four Nations at the end of this season.

Speaking to Fox Sports at the launch of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, Meninga denied that tensions were any higher between the two states than they ever are at the end of an Origin series and said it will all be left at the door in Kangaroos camp.

“This is what happens every year to be honest with you but it’s getting beaten up out of the media again,” Meninga said.

“This is Origin, this is the theatre of Origin, players move on back to their clubs, they want to be successful, they want to play in the finals and then we’ll get on with picking the Australian side.

“There won’t be any angst amongst the players, they’ll all want to play in the green and gold jersey.”

Rugby League World Cup 2017 launch at Suncorp Stadium. PNG coach Michael Marum and captain David Mead, Mal Meninga and Cameron Smith, Jess Bromwich and Stephen Kearney. Source: News Corp Australia

Meninga even claimed that he would attempt to harness the passion on display in a positive way to get the best out of his side in what is a big tournament in the context of the four year international cycle.

“It’s always been juicy,” Meninga said.

“Forever I’ve been playing in it or been involved in the Queensland side I’ve always known it to be exactly the same so we always come together in the Australian side, always happy to be selected, all want to do our best in the green and gold jersey, so you know, juiciness is good but we’ll have a passion for the Australian jersey instead.”

INVEST IN PLAYERS

RLPA boss Ian Prendergast said on NRL360 that the organisation are investigating different measures to put in place to help players who fall victim to social media faux pas or making the wrong choices away from the field.

Already this season two players have been caught up in scandal due to their being filmed in situations which have been deemed unacceptable.

Another player has allegedly been filmed taking drugs, with the video being shopped to various media outlets.

The RLPA has been involved in each of these.

On top of investigating the root of a players’ behaviour, the RLPA are exploring avenues to keep players engaged off the field.

“We’ve got some ideas in terms of how we improve the management of these issues as a game that we’ve discussed in principle with the NRL,” Prendergast said.

“A lot of this will be dealt with at the upcoming CBA negotiation which we’re seeing as a really great opportunity to help future proof the game in terms of the professional standards which exist, the way we manage issues like this and the up-front investment in these players as people and not just elite athletes.

“That’s key. We know that about 80 per cent of players that get investigated from an integrity point of view are the small percentage of players that are disengaged off-field.”

COWS CAN WIN AGAIN: IKIN

Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys passes the ball. Source: Getty Images

Ben Ikin is backing North Queensland to go back-to-back.

After tipping Brisbane to win the 2016 premiership, the former Cowboys board member believes they have what it takes to claim a second straight title.

“I started the season tipping the Broncos but truth be told, I’m really concerned that they’re not going to be able to get back to playing the football we saw in the first eight rounds by the time finals hit,” Ikin said on NRL360.

“They might sort of get somewhere there abouts but not with the confidence they were playing early season.

“I’ve landed back on the Cowboys.

“They’ve got great players in the most important positions, not to mention they’ve got the best player in the world in Johnathan Thurston.

“From everything you’ve seen from North Queensland this year, hunger will not be an issue. They say once you’ve won one, it’s hard to get up again and as excited, to that level you need to win a comp but have you seen any signs the Cowboys aren’t as hungry?”