Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak has paid tribute to the composure of debutant full-back Corey Norman after the 19-year-old made a blistering start to his NRL career in the Broncos' season-opening 30-24 win over North Queensland on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Norman had a hand in three of the home side's five tries, but it was his plucky defensive efforts in the opening stages that left the biggest impression on Henjak.
The attention-grabbing youngster made a couple of try-saving tackles to keep out Cowboys trio Scott Bolton, Michael Bani and Luke O'Donnell before Israel Folau crossed to break the deadlock in the 19th minute.
It was the sort of fearless defending that the Broncos faithful had come to expect from AFL-bound former full-back Karmichael Hunt, and Henjak took note.
"He did a tremendous job, probably no more telling then when he held Bolton up on the try line," Henjak said.
"He (Bolton) is a big guy who is 109 or 110 kilo, so Corey did a really good job there to hold him up."
"I wouldn't say we were expecting that of him but he stepped up to the mark."
"He was good and looked pretty competent with the ball too."
Henjak tipped Norman would keep his feet on the ground despite the sudden rise to the top, and judging by the teenager's maiden meeting with the press, that should not be an issue.
"I loved it. It was pretty surreal actually being out there playing with 'Locky' (captain Darren Lockyer), but I just tried to enjoy the experience," Norman said.
"It's totally different playing in front of a crowd like that."
"I am not getting carried away. I know it is only one game, I had a hand in a few tries but I also made a mistake that let them back in, (so) I just want to be consistent from now on."
Henjak was also more than content with how Norman and fellow debutants Mitchell Dodds and Matt Gillett handled the pressure provided by a gallant Cowboys comeback and a crowd of 48,516.
"I am (proud), I thought the young fellows did a really good job tonight and they didn't look too much out of place," Henjak said.
"It is only one game though, the key to playing NRL is being consistent - so they can enjoy tonight and the weekend, and then get back to work on Monday ... I was pleased with them though."
"I was really pleased that when it got to 24-all that we were able to score again, because we were under the pump there."
"It took a big effort and a lot of character to get another try there."
Lockyer believed there were plenty of positives in his side's rollercoaster start to the 2010 NRL season where they saw a 24-point lead vanish in the space of 23 minutes before Denan Kemp sealed the result with five minutes to go.
"It was a learning experience," Lockyer said.
"We experienced absorbing pressure and putting heaps of points on, and then we let the opposition back in the game, but we were able to fight back."
"It was a bit of everything for us tonight, the good thing is we will go to training on Monday and not be full of ourselves."
The Broncos will eagerly await news from their medical team on Folau (shoulder) and Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) who both pulled up sore.
Cowboys