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Norman stood down by Parramatta Eels over drugs conviction

Troubled NRL playmaker Corey Norman has been stood down by the Eels following his conviction for drugs possession.

Parramatta Eels NRL player Corey Norman

Parramatta Eels NRL player Corey Norman arrives at the Downing Centre court in Sydney, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Source: AAP

Parramatta will meet with the NRL to discuss the sanctioning of Corey Norman after he was stood down by the Eels following his drugs conviction.

Norman pleaded guilty to charges of possessing a prohibited drug and possessing a prescribed restricted substance and was fined $800 when he appeared at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.

On Wednesday night the Eels announced they had stood down their star playmaker for round 19.

There is a chance Norman could be rubbed out for the rest of the season.

"The Parramatta Eels have stood down Corey Norman from the club's round 19 game against the Penrith Panthers on Sunday," the statement read.

"Corey today pleaded guilty in a Sydney court to one charge of drug possession and one charge of possessing a restricted substance.

"In each matter, Corey has had a conviction recorded and been fined $400; he now has 28 days to lodge any appeal to the sentence.

"The club will meet with the NRL this week to review the matter, before Corey meets with the Eels disciplinary committee next week."

Norman's mounting baggage threatens to damage his contract asking price after he copped two drug convictions on Wednesday.

The playmaker has also been seeking a big pay upgrade that would put him among the game's biggest earners after he comes off contract at the end of this season.

It came after he had MDMA and Diazepam seized from him by security at Sydney's The Star casino when he underwent a random check in May.

The convictions are the latest episode in a spate of bad publicity he has incurred recently.

Along with then-teammate Junior Paulo and then-Penrith hooker James Segeyaro, Norman was warned off by police after a photo was posted of the trio dining earlier with a group including former senior Nomad boss Paulie Younan and accused fraudster and money launderer Rafat Alameddine.

Police documents submitted to the court said CCTV footage of the dinner showed a small white container being passed from one male to another at the dinner, before it was given to Norman.

Norman had then later told security the Diazepam was medication for his muscles, before another man claimed the drugs were his.

Eels officials are also reportedly interested in discussing claims Norman sent a video of an elderly man appearing to snort a white substance to other NRL players via social media application Snapchat.

The claim comes after a similar video was believed to be one of two being shopped around to media outlets over the weekend.

The other video is believed to show Norman in the room with Segeyaro and a naked woman.

Neither Norman or Segeyaro are believed to have been doing anything illegal in either of the videos.

Despite the videos not yet appearing in the public domain, the Eels could become more concerned if Norman is found to have shared the video himself.


3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



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