Why Todd Carney deserves one last chance

"Why Todd Carney deserves one last chance." Are we referring to his 6th last chance, or 10th last chance, or 13th last chance, or 15th last chance, or 20th last chance.....?

Not quite. The Roosters Football Club (or whateer their official name is) is an independant organisation in it's own right. That organisation is a member of the NRL's organisation, not a subsidiary. Yes the NRL can apply conditions for membership, including to impose an oversight group (the review comittee) and impose appropriate action if a member, or individual of one of it's members does something contrary to it's conditions - in this case [possibly] bring the organisation into disrepute. But it's not the employer of the individuals of it's members. So in short the NRL can impose the fine, can threaten banishment if Todd reoffends. BUt the way Gallop goes about it is wrong. First he met with the Roosters Coach and CEO (Smith and Noyce) but then requested a one-to-one meeting with Todd (ok, with his agent too.) That's where it's wrong, club reps should have been present at that meeting too, if an action plan is imposed the employer, that is the club, must be represented to see if it should, can, and will help impose it. The club has a vested interest in it's players, the NRL does not. The NRL is too regularly treading all over the interests of the clubs without giving them fair representation. Gallop was even more obnoxios than usual in this case, this matter was already being dealt with but he still went storming in "in emergency meetings" sounding his horns and clanging hisbells, ensuring he would be noticed - and that is probably only be for one purpose: to gain points for himself to be selected to lead the upcoming IC. If the fire is already under control, no need for the big chief to big note himself and with lots of fanfare tell the boys where to point the hoses, unless he thinks his job is on the line because he feels he might seen as irrelevant.

Which, at nearly 25 years old, he has demonstrated he is incapable and unwilling to do. Indignant hands on hips and very, very disappointed pursed lips, a threatening "You're on your 7th last warning", a tax deductible $10,000 donation carved out of a 3 or 5 hundred thousand dollar contract fee, a self managed naughty stool diary, augmented by huffing and puffing by a magistrate who "gives him a pass" will not make a difference. That has already been clearly demonstrated. Scraping the innards of a dead 'un off the bitumen is too big a price to pay for such extraordinary indulgence.

I had no idea he is such a stain. why inst he in jail??

Being somewhat unpredictable is Carney's strength. Its something that has its good points (on the field) and bad (off the field). He'll never be a Darren Lockyer. But he is a major talent that need to stay in the sport. So if he needs a few passes, give them to him but with in reason of course. The main thing is he needs to learn from his mistakes/indiscretions and just grow up.

There is no cure for stupidity... Every code has them ..braindeads with the IQ of a houseplant. Eventually they run out of rope (see multiple chances) & have no one to blame but themselves. There are plenty of other talented athletes coming through the juniors to replace them. I have no sympathy for them after being given chance after chance.

I think Carney is probably an example for leaguies really. Hes a bit of a lad, has the occasional altercation with the cops, has the odd fight, great footballer. I think hes a legend and every body should lay off him. Having a drinking problem and playing in the NRL is no mean feat.

Last Chance Salloon, i like that. Like the NRL is the watering hole. All i can say is, stayed tuned, this wont be the last we hear about Toddy boy before the end of the year. Lets wait and see. He has got Origin to negotiate yet. Hahaha.

Roosters are part of a the bigger NRL picture. so yes Carney does work for Gallop and when an employee continually makes your company look bad you would not hesitate to pull them into line. Carney would be the face of the NRL if he wasn't such an idiot off the field.

This is Carney's last chance salloon in the NRL and rightly so. The reality for him to remain in the NRL is give up alcohol permanently and lead a very quiet life off the field. The moment he touches another drop of booze it will end his career in Australia and possibly UK ( work visa ). If that doesn't hit home then nothing will. He is a terrifc player and great to watch which all NRL fans would agree with. TODD PLEASE GIVE UP ALCOHOL OR YOUR LEAGUE CAREER WILL BE OVER.

Carney will be judged in a court of law for the drink driving. I think it's overkill that his NRL contract should be ripped up for what he did. On the face of it, it was an honest (silly) mistake. He wasn't tearing around in his car with a skinful or dodging police or whatever and if he'd had the sort of bender that is being reported, he would have blown much higher than 0.052 at 7am. The penalties are acceptable for what he actually did. As for setting someone on fire - my understanding is that it was Carneys mate who was a willing participant in a NYE gag. The bloke wasn't hurt or laid charges...it's silly behaviour but no more. I think the main issue is the way his 'redemption' was reported last year - it was almost as if the journey was over - where all he'd really done was stay off the sauce for 6 months or so. I'm not blaming the media rather the people around Carney who were a bit too quick to declare that his rehabilitation was completed with a Dally M. Despite what it may sound like I'm not a roosters fan nor have I ever been DUI....haha

I agree with most things which have been posed here. However, he was not low range really. he was 0.05 and he should have been zero. You would think that he would know the rules given his past endeavours. Stupidity is not an excuse

Who is Todd's employer? I thought it was the Roosters club, not the NRL. Problem is Gallop has become such an attention whore he couldn't resist the photo op - clearly trying to retain his job into the new RL independant council. Who was behaving most badly in this case? As usual Gallop willing to sacrifice players to suit his own purposes, but throuought his career as NRL CEO he's never given a stuff about the players. The best outcome from this experience is that Gallop is seen as the obnoxios player destoyer he is and get's the boot when the IC forms.

In looking at Skinner's "Carney rap sheet" it occurs to me that his latest incident is probably the most minor infraction on the list. Compared to setting guys on fire and going on a rampage through Goulburn, a "morning after" low range PCA offence is minor. But what if he'd knocked over a pedestrian that morning? Brett makes the point clear in one of his posts and I agree with it, that waiting "until someone gets hurt" is too late. The issue seems to be that he, rightly, is being judged on his past sins, not just this one. There is all kinds of talk about "alcohol counselling." Bill Baxter advocates the AA approach of total abstinence. That might work, but alcohol counselling is very individualised and it may not be the best solution all the time. I've written before that young elite sportsmen and women who are on a strict no alcohol training program in their pre-season can come seriously unstuck when they are "rewarded" for their hard work by having a night out. Abstinence + fitness = rapid intoxication. Sometimes, and I'm not saying this is necessarily the case for Todd Carney, responsible consumption is an alternative to zero tolerance. In Carney's latest case, it's safe to assume his consumption the night before was not along responsible guidelines.

With his criminal record, and a prior for drink driving, he's not getting a slap on the wrist, but at the same time, with the reading being 0.05, and the circumstances being that he drove the morning after, he's not going to be doing any time. Throw in that he rehabilitated himself from being a genuine train wreck, and all that leads to one thing for certain: the Court will not be sending him away. From 2006 - 2009, this bloke was in all sorts. To his credit he got off the booze and started not only to fulfil his potential, but behave like a decent human being. He's slipped up by getting back on the grog, and if he'd gone high-range, driving home from the pub, we wouldn't be having a discussion. But if his only crime is still being a bit over the next morning, its not a hanging offence. Yes, he's got a big problem with alcohol, and last year he showed very promising evidence that he was taking it seriously. He needs to be encouraged back to where he was, and continue on the positive path. In 2002, the Court of Criminal Appeal heard the case of Marschall, which dealt with a man who had made an impressive recovery from drug addiction, only to relapse and commit another offence. Justice Smart made the following observation, which we might all do well to consider: "Some caution is required. Endeavouring to cease using drugs is difficult. The road to be travelled is long and hard. Stumbles in the form of breaches of conditions and further offences occur. Steps forward are often accompanied by steps back. A doctrinaire approach is not helpful." Now of course, the standard for guys like Todd Carney is way higher, and again if the relapse had involved even a mid-range drink drive on the way home from the pub, these kind of ideas would take less priority. He'd be punished for the unacceptable risk he posed to others, and his record would count against him, because of the recklessness he's displayed in the past. He'd definitely be facing jail. But it's not that, and he's not going to jail. Nonetheless the court is bound to send a strong message; be in no doubt that the regular Magistrate at Waverley Local Court, Ms Milledge, will huff and puff about how close he is to jail. I'll predict a bond or community service order and lets not forget, another lengthy stint without a licence, with the RTA to impose 5 year 'habitual offender' disqualification on top of whatever he cops from the beak.

The NRL needs to wake up to themselves, every season it is the same old story, this is the problem.