Ex-NRL star Corey Norman banned for eight weeks for deliberate touching of the buttocks

Corey Norman has played his last game of the 2022 season after the Super League judiciary handed down a mammoth ban. WATCH THE VIDEO

Corey Norman has been charged with a high Grade F contrary conduct offence.

Corey Norman has been suspended for eight matches, and fined $860, after being found guilty by an independent Operational Rules Tribunal of a Grade F charge of ‘other contrary behaviour’ in a Super League match against Warrington.

Norman, pleaded not guilty at his disciplinary hearing, but Her Honour Justice Sarah Wright, who chaired the independent operational rules tribunal, said the panel were “entirely satisfied” the act was deliberate.

The relevant excerpt of the ruling read: “The footage of the incident shows a deliberate movement of Corey Norman’s left arm and hand over the top of Oliver Holmes and on to his buttocks.

Corey Norman has been charged with a high Grade F contrary conduct offence.

“At no point does the footage show a grabbing of the shorts to push Oliver Holmes down as described by Corey Norman.

“The footage shows a deliberate placing of Corey Norman’s hands and fingers on the buttocks and coupled with the immediate complaint from Holmes, the reaction of his teammate Danny Walker and the statement of Holmes to which we have measured regard we are entirely satisfied that this was an intentional placing of a hand between the buttocks of the opposing player and we find the charge proved.”

“IT IS JUST NOT HIS GO”

– Dean Ritchie

Former NRL star Corey Norman is facing the shame of being suspended long-term for allegedly sticking his finger up the backside of an opposition player – but his manager claims it was an “accident.”

The disgusting allegations come 21 years after Wests Tigers winger John Hopoate was banished from rugby league for committing the same vulgar act.

Norman, who played for Parramatta, Brisbane and St George Illawarra over a 12-year, 228-game NRL career, was placed on report while playing halfback for Toulouse in a Super League game against Warrington last Thursday.

It is alleged he poked the bum of Wolves player Oliver Holmes.

The Rugby Football League have charged Norman was a high-level Grade F contrary conduct offence which carries a suspension of least eight games.

Norman, 31, could be banned for longer if found guilty.

The Australian-based manager for Norman, Paul Sutton, has defended his client after watching footage of the incident.

Corey Norman last played in the NRL for the Dragons in 2021. Picture: Getty Images

“I would be stunned if it was not an accident,” Sutton said. “Corey isn’t that type of player – he never has been.

“I think his hand has just ended up in an unfortunate position. Corey has an immaculate record when it comes to on-field behaviour. He has an exemplary record.

“I don’t think he has even been charged during his long career. He has certainly never done anything contrary. It is just not his go. I don’t think he was ever changed in the NRL. I will talk to him tonight.”

A hearing has been scheduled for this week in England. Norman is seen as a key player in Toulouse’s battle to avoid relegation. There are just four regular season matches remaining in Super League.

Norman and Holmes had been engaged in a running battle during the game.

The Australian was caught by the broadcast cameras reaching between Holmes’ legs during a tackle.

One tackle after the alleged incident, the touch judge reported the drama to the referee Chris Kendall, who immediately placed Norman on report for “inappropriate contact.”

The Sun newspaper claimed Norman “tried to insert his digit where it was not wanted.”

Hopoate infamously inserted his finger in the anus of three North Queensland players back in 2001. He was suspended for 12 games with one NRL official describing his behaviour as “disgusting, violent and offensive.”

Corey Norman Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

In 2019, Hopoate told the media: “I’m proud of my finger antics.

“You can either embrace it and make it a joke, or you’ll be getting angry your whole life because people will be hammering you about it. You just need to embrace it.

“When you make it a joke, people go “oh, he doesn’t care” and they forget about it.”

The charge against Norman could not come at a worse time for Norman given his six month deal is set to expire.

Norman had started negotiating a new Super League deal.

Castleford’s Kenny Edwards was suspended for ten games after a similar act last year on former Bulldogs prop Sam Kasiano, who was playing for Huddersfield.

Toulouse sit last on the Super League ladder and must win at least two of the final games to avoid relegation to the Championship.