Brisbane NRL coach Anthony Griffin has confirmed Corey Norman as Josh Hoffman’s replacement at fullback against Canterbury on Sunday after the Kiwi star was dropped for breaching club discipline.

Despite Brisbane’s form and injury crisis, Griffin enforced the club’s strict punishment on Hoffman after he arrived late for training on Wednesday.

“Externally, it might seem like a big call but it’s not a big call from our end. It’s a disappointing one we have to make,” said Griffin on Thursday after Norman ran at fullback at training.

“It’s a no brainer to us.”

Griffin said he didn’t ponder too much about who to pitch into the fullback job despite having other options, including fellow New Zealand representative Gerard Beale and rock solid young winger Lachlan Maranta who has been getting rave reviews.

“Corey’s done a job there before, as has Gerard,” he said.

“It’s too early to put Lachie in that position – he’s been doing such a good job for us on the wing.

“We put Corey there and we only have to make one change and he brings a different set of skills as well.

“He’s a ball player and he’s got a kicking game as well which will help.

“I didn’t sit there too long and weigh things up. We had a decision to make.”

Norman, who produced a couple of man-of-the-match efforts from fullback early last year and beat Ben Hunt to Darren Lockyer’s No.6 jumper, has been battling a groin injury.

He said he enjoyed the extra space at fullback.

“I can be an extra pair of eyes for our halves and I will be giving it my best, that’s for sure,” he said.