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Star halfback Todd Carney reminded NSW selectors of his representative bona fides by playing a leading role in the Raiders’ 30-24 come from behind win against Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium yesterday.
Carney scored a brilliant solo try, had a hand in three others and executed a tidy kicking game as the home side overcame a 24-10 halftime deficit to get the points.
The 21-year-old joins the likes of fellow youngster Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters), Brett Kimmorley (Cronulla), Matt Orford (Manly) and Peter Wallace (Brisbane) as potential candidates for the Blues No.7 jersey.
Coach Neil Henry certainly believes Carney should be considered closely for NSW.
“I think he is an outstanding talent,” Henry said.
“Laurie (Daley) will look at him for Country (and) they will look at him (for State of Origin).”
Carney has had a strong season start for the Raiders, who were considered strong wooden spoon contenders before the season start but have moved to sixth on the ladder with a respectable three wins from five games.
To be even considered representative material would be a victory for Carney who came close to being sacked from the Raiders after serious driving offences in 2006 and 2007.
But the gifted No.7 was circumspect after his dominant performance today.
“Everyone puts it aside and tries not to think about (representative honours),” Carney said.
It said much about Carney’s performance today that Adrian Purtell, who scored three tries, hardly rated a mention at the post match press conference.
The Raiders looked a beaten side at halftime with all the momentum going the Tigers’ way, a deft kicking game from Mathew Head and two tries to interchange forward Bronson Harrison putting the visitors in the box seat.
But the Tigers lost the plot in the second half.
“We went to sleep,” coach Tim Sheens said.
“We were eating quicksand trying to get out.”
Tigers captain Brett Hodgson praised Carney and fellow playmaker Lincoln Withers.
“Lincoln Withers and Carney just cut us to pieces,” Hodgson said.
Sheens warned fans not to expect a quick turnaround from a club struggling with injuries and fitness.
“The next month’s going to be a tough one for the club. We are going to have to put some miles in,” he said.
The news got no better for the Tigers with Harrison leaving the field with a leg injury.
The visitors had their chances to win and were leading heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
But with less than seven minutes remaining, Carney shrugged off a bunch of lacklustre defenders and burst into open space.
For 70 metres he dodged and weaved Tigers centre Chris Lawrence before falling, exhausted, over the line.
Carney converted his own try to give Canberra a two-point lead.
Purtell sealed the victory in the 78th minute and grabbed his hat-trick in the process.
There were two dark spots for the Raiders with forward Trevor Thurling going on report for a lifting tackle in the first half and fellow scrum-mate Josh Miller sustaining an ankle injury.
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