The outcome of the Corey Norman pills probe could prompt Parramatta to decrease – or even pull from the table – their offer for the off-contract playmaker.
How to proceed with negotiations will likely be one of the top priorities for Parramatta Leagues Club boss Bevan Paul, who is poised to fill the void left by the 'gang of five' by taking on a group CEO role on an interim basis.
Norman is off contract at the end of the season and his management are seeking an extension worth up to $2.4 million over three seasons. Norman's bargaining power is likely to diminish after he was photographed with a former Nomad bikie and accused criminal before he was allegedly caught in possession of unknown pills on Friday night.
Norman, Eels teammate Junior Paulo and Norman's housemate, Penrith hooker James Segeyaro, dined at a Chinese restaurant with former senior bikie Paulie Younan and accused fraudster and money launderer Rafat Alameddine. Later that night Norman was stopped from entering The Star casino after he was found in possession of a container of unidentified pills. It's alleged another person claimed ownership of the container.
The Eels had been in negotiations to extend Norman's tenure, but they will hold off pending investigations by the club, the police and the NRL's integrity unit. The 25-year-old is one of the hottest stars on the open market but rival clubs are also likely to await the outcome of the probes before expressing interest.
Parramatta has been involved in a series of off-field dramas, with Norman and fellow halves partner Kieran Foran involved in the latest. The club is already keen to address its culture following the salary cap scandal and there are concerns about Norman's plight. Should police charges follow, it's likely his offer will be reduced, while there is also the chance the contract extension may be withdrawn altogether.
Norman played in Monday night's loss to Melbourne. Foran's availability against Newcastle next week remains unclear. The Kiwi international has been diagnosed with shoulder bursitis, an injury he sustained against the Storm, with the treatment potentially delaying his return to a Queensland rehabilitation clinic.
Paul is likely to be tasked with the Norman negotiations and the running of the club while chairman Steve Sharp, deputy Tom Issa, CEO John Boulous, football manager Daniel Anderson and director Peter Serrao respond to breach notices for their roles in the salary cap scandal.
Paul's appointment as an interim group CEO still has to be confirmed by the board of the Parramatta Leagues Club, and is no guarantee to be given the green light when directors meet on Thursday.
Paul previously balked at the board's offer for him to take up the position for a six-week period, instead insisting he needed at least 12 months in the role to begin to rebuild the beleaguered club.
But with a majority of directors standing by Boulous while he remains employed by the Eels, they refused the longer tenure.
That appeared to sink plans for Paul to lend a hand to the football operation but now, after days of tension, he has said privately he will accept the extra responsibility on the board's terms – for the next six weeks.
The Eels can't afford to drop more than one game in order to ensure a spot in the play-offs after provisionally being stripped of 12 points.
