Brisbane may have unearthed a long-term solution to Darren Lockyer's impending retirement from the NRL.

It comes in the form of talented teenager Corey Norman, who displayed the silky skills of a five-eighth in his man-of-the-match arrival against North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

Norman produced one of rugby league's great debuts as Brisbane survived a Johnathan Thurston inspired fightback from 24-0 to win 30-24 with a last-ditch try to speedster Denan Kemp.

Stepping into the sizeable boots of fullback Karmichael Hunt, 18 year-old Norman not only filled the difficult role with flying colours, but also gave coach Ivan Henjak a look into the future when the time comes to replace Lockyer.

Henjak is blessed with a cupboard full of fullbacks, including another classy youngster in Josh Hoffman, who'd been pencilled in as Hunt's replacement before rolling his ankle a few weeks ago.

With the skills and composure he displayed on Friday night, Norman could make the positional switch to No.6 when the time comes and if he progresses as most observers believe he will.

It would see him repeat Lockyer's bold move from fullback to five-eighth early in his career.

Hunt was a more aggressive and direct ball runner but Norman showed he had the same fearlessness in defence, stopping three Cowboys tries in the first half.

In attack he proved in time he could match Hunt, combining in some promising out-the-back plays with Lockyer and throwing the final pass for three of Brisbane five tries, combining speed, footwork and some moments of magic.

Norman's performance was full of maturity - similar to a few other teenagers - Hunt and Lockyer - who've gone into better things after making impressive NRL debuts in the No.1 jumper.

"He did a tremendous job. There was no more telling play than holding up (Scott) Bolton, a big guy, 109 or 110 kilos.

"I wouldn't say we were expecting that from him, but he stepped up to the mark and he looked pretty confident with the ball."

Norman thoroughly enjoyed playing in front of his family, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and 48,000 other fans, but admitted there were a few moments in the game that brought him back to reality.

One such moment was the 53rd-minute fumble of a Johnathan Thurston grubber kick coming that triggered the visitor's amazing comeback from 24-0 down.

"I'm not getting carried away, it's only one game," said Norman.

"I had a hand in a few tries but I also made the mistake that let them back in (the game)."

Henjak knew he'd taken a calculated gamble on youth thrusting Mitchell Dodds into the starting pack and picking Norman and Matt Gillett for their debuts.

They all delivered magnificently on the night.

"It was a bit of a shock to Doddsie, tossing him out there," admitted Henjak.

"He does rip and tear, he doesn't really know who the opposition are, he's not into footy that much ... he doesn't know who they are he just runs hard and tackles hard.

"Gillett, he was good, he was very good."

Henjak confessed to some anxious moments as the Cowboys rode Thurston's genius to level the scored 24-all with 10 minutes left.

"It got a bit hairy there at the end but it would have been a tragedy if we had have lost that game," said Henjak said.

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