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On Saturday night, Todd Carney takes on the club he once dreamed of playing for. The club he captained and rose to stardom with.
But with Carney using a compliant media to criticise the way the Raiders ‘handled’ his 2008 sacking, the fuse has been lit for an explosive affair and the upcoming battle between these two will be something to savour.
For Raiders fans, Carney was once seen as the Messiah, the one that would return the nation’s capital to its glory days.
But then the scandals arrived, one after another.
Eventually, at the height of his skills and after a series of relatively serious criminal matters, Carney was sacked by the Raiders half-way through the 2008 season.
The sacking was expected by many, and although Carney and many Raiders fans were devastated, the matter seemed to fade away as Carney spent 2009 in NRL exile.
Upon returning to the Roosters in 2010, it appeared the matter would be forgotten about as the Sydney media focused on the form of the resurgent Roosters.
But on Monday, swept up in his quest for redemption, Carney publicly states that the Raiders didn’t handle his sacking properly.
Whatever occurred at the meeting, such a provocative statement will surely inflame the club and even the Raiders players themselves.
The Raiders treated Carney like he was a member of a family, defending him from media criticism and giving him multiple final chances and ultimatums.
There will be a lot of anger at Raiders HQ, make no mistake about it.
This is the club where he made many great mates. One of these is Terry Campese, the Raiders current star playmaker. Some, including myself, believe these two players will dominate the NRL over the next few years and they may even be reunited in sky blue jerseys later this year.
No player will feel like they have more to prove than Campese, the player that rose to prominence just when Carney was becoming a fading memory.
Campese form for the last part of 2008 was unrivalled in the NRL that year and Raiders fans quickly found a new star that would be able to guide the club’s attack.
Campese has done more than set up tries, he has defended like a workhorse, kicked and led the Raiders around the park. He is clearly the future Raiders captain and has pledged his desire to play for the club he has always loved.
So although the Todd Carney fairytale didn’t have a happy ending for Raiders fans, the battle between Campese and Carney will develop into a rivalry for the ages.
Aand it all begins this Saturday night. Be afraid Toddy, be very afraid!.
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