Corey Norman led the Broncos to a 28-22 NRL trial victory over North Queensland on Saturday night to take first points in his three-round battle with Ben Hunt for Darren Lockyer’s old No.6 jersey.
Both young halves impressed in their opening audition for the vacant five-eighth role but it was Norman who delivered the key blows in the pre-season clash at Redcliffe’s Dolphin Oval.
Wearing No.7, Norman was the main man as he stepped up with an excellent passing and running game to have a significant hand in three of Brisbane’s first four tries.
The 21-year-old, who has struggled to nail down an NRL spot since making an eye-catching debut at fullback two years ago, also produced the match-turning play.
With North Queensland leading 18-16 midway through the second half, Norman made a wonderful 40m break which paved the way for Hunt and Dane Copley to put Nathanael Barnes over in the corner.
Fullback Dane Gagai was also a stand-out for the young Broncos outfit who suffered a cruel early blow with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury to talented centre Jordan Kahu.
In his first match back from a knee reconstruction, the 21-year-old Kahu looked distraught after reinjuring his right knee in the 19th minute.
While all eyes were on Norman and Hunt, Cowboys five-eighth Ray Thompson almost stole the show in the first half as he piloted the visitors to an 18-10 lead.
With Test playmaker Johnathan Thurston on Indigenous All Stars duty and a host of other Cowboys halves contenders injured, the 22-year-old looked dangerous with every touch of the ball.
Thompson sliced through from a scything run near the line for a solo try and combined well with powerful hooker James Segayaro who was also a handful for the Broncos defence.
Norman was in good touch from the outset, putting lock Brendan Gibb over for Brisbane’s second four-pointer and then combining nicely with Gagai for Copley to score the third.
Hunt also had his moments, most notably a skilful midfield bust where he beat three defenders with a dummy, fend and step before an off-target last pass wasted a great chance.
Titans recruit Luke Capewell was also set down for some time in the Broncos halves but was a late withdrawal due to a groin injury which forced Andrew McCullough to start at hooker.
