London Broncos set to confirm Corey Norman signing

James Gordon
Corey Norman Toulouse Olympique

London Broncos will announce the signing of former NRL half-back Corey Norman later today to boost their push for the Championship play-offs.

Norman, 32, has been playing in the French Elite Championship with Lezignan having ended last season with Toulouse in Super League.

The former Brisbane, Parramatta and St George-Illawarra half-back made more than 200 appearances in the NRL between 2010 and 2021.

He arrived in Super League in April 2022 to fill the void left by the controversial departure of Johnathon Ford, and though he inspired a victory over Wakefield at Magic Weekend, Norman couldn’t help the French side avoid relegation.

Norman ended the Super League season under a cloud, suspended for eight matches for ‘inserting his fingers in to the bottom of Warrington’s Oliver Holmes’. That meant he missed the last four games of Toulouse’s stay in the top flight.

His move to the capital has been a worst kept secret in the Championship in recent weeks, and it was referred to in Viaplay’s TV coverage of the Broncos win over Toulouse at the weekend’s Summer Bash.

The RFL have confirmed that he was registered by the Broncos ahead of their game against Toulouse, and so has three matches of his ban still to serve.

The Broncos have now teased the announcement with a social media post listing Norman’s former clubs.

London won 14-10 to keep them in touch with the Championship top seven, albeit four points adrift.

Another recent signing from the French Elite Championship, Dean Whare, crossed for a try.

Whare, 33, has Super League experience with Catalans and previously played more than 150 games in the NRL with Manly Sea Eagles and Penrith Panthers.

The former New Zealand international has been playing in France for Pia Donkeys following the end of his time with the Dragons.

Young half-back Oli Leyland made his 50th appearance for the Broncos and put in a man of the match performance, that prompted a bullish post-match interview.

Leyland said: “Where we are doesn’t reflect our team. People need to be careful of us. We’re not an underdog team. That’s not a fluke.

“We deserve that. When we went over there, we were all over them for 20 minutes we didn’t have the players to bring on. People better watch out for us.”

London are set to announce Norman at 4pm ahead of their trip to Widnes on Sunday.

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Championship Corey Norman