Are we too soft on players' welfare?

Personally I think this article has been written more out of opinion and less common sense, but since you had your opinion, let me express mine. Todd Carney is an amazing player, who is finally finding his feet after a series of knock backs in his career. He proved to be a real talent when he played for NSW in the 2nd 2012 State of Origin game as goal-kicker. Although I agree he can get into serious trouble at times, would we really make such a big fuss out of this if he was an normal, ordinary bloke? Seeing as though nearly all his offences were to do with alcohol and NOT about his NRL life, I still struggle to find reason why the thing that he loves most had to be taken away from him. He played for the Canberra Raiders and Sharks- not doubt of which he loved, but Cronulla Sharks pushed him away when he most needed support. Seeing as though he were friends with the members and people involved with his team, shouldn't THEY be there to support him, shouldn't they be the ones to keep pushing him forward when he was in trouble. Excuse me if I am wrong, but for the 14 and a half years of my life, I have been lead to believe that teamwork is about togetherness and support, care and trust and most importantly, love. As a former netball player, we encouraged our team mates and would stick together. Personally I feel as though the Sharks pushed him away, haunted by the thought that they may too be publically strutinised by the media for still holidng on to this troublesome young man. I know he broke club rules ( probably the stupidest rule in the sporting world), but if an ordinary guy did this would it be all over the news and TV? Just because he is an NRL star, it doesn't mean that his life should be displayed all over newspapers and and computers for all of the world to look it, no matter what he did. I;m sure plenty of people drink drive every night all over the world, and make a fool out of themselves when they get drunk. Also, the consequences of his actions were not appropiate. What did it teach him? That when in trouble, your team are just going to let him down and not support you? Obviously the NRL commitee felt that they had to do something about his actions, and reacted in a stupid matter. Todd Carneys NRL life should not have been affected by these stupid events. Give him a break, and go pick on someone else, like Benji Marshall for example, who is such an over exaggerated player who drops the ball nearly every time he plays yet still gets amazingly high praise.

I cannot believe people are using the "we all mistakes" line to defend Todd Carney!! Yes, I feel a little bit sorry that the incident that broke that tipped him over the edge was not a big deal. But, before everyone starts getting ready to give him a big hug, pat him on the back and tell him it will be ok - he has almost gone to jail 3 times people!! The only reason he is not in jail right now is that he is Todd Carney well known league player. He was also banned from his home town (Goulburn) for 12 months for destruction of property. He was also part of a police chase when his licence was disqualified. This is not a person that messes around at the edges that is getting picked on by the media. If he was a regular person on the street, he would be in jail. Enough already - get rid of him!

Carney should be gone for good. Why should clubs and the NRL continue to support this guy when he constantly rubs their noses in it ?. Yes alcohol is legal but it severely impacts your performance as a sportsman and therefore the product that he is selling to clubs. Those clubs who have a contract with him have the right to expect him to look after himself and prepare himself for matches which he doesn't do if he goes out boozing. Also this guy is out of control when he drinks. He has proved it time and time again. Why should the NRL invest money in this guy rather than invest it in some new kid coming through who hasn't had half the chances that Carney has had. Its time he went permanently. P.S. Todd - Centrelink is that way.

Feel sorry for Todd carney in this situation as he did not do anything unlawful, just broke team rules. If it was another off field situation where he did do something unlawful then yes throw all the books in the world at him. In saying that I feel because of the media the roosters had no other choice but to sack him because a cabbie dobbed him in

I don't think are to soft, i think the media in part is to blame, wanting to sell newspapers by sensationalising events that manny young adult men do in australian society. Drinking alcohol, . But becoz of this game of cat and mouse by the media, in playing this role model V bad boy game to sell newspapers is to blame for a lot of what these players do in there private lives begin blown out of proportion. Todd carney has not done anything illegal. I cant comment on the drinking and driving incident with him because i don't know the facts, but the most recent incident of him drinking at a pub that is not illegal, alcohol is legal in australia if you are over 18 years of age. And i also notice double standards with certain players. Why was Jamal Idris not sacked by the titans or reprimanded for drinking on mad monday those pictures of him . Drinking alcohol is legal, obviously the media see it as a bad thing if elite athletes smoke tobacco or drink alcohol which are both legal to do.

Watts - sacked by Cronulla and previously sacked by the Roosters as a junior for misbehaviour. One thing that annoys me is that players that allegedly commit the most serious offences (typically domestic assault) get off because there's no witness willing to tell the truth. Yet someone that wees against the side of a house gets the book thrown at them.

I totally agree with you Nick. I am happy that Todd has left the club. The Roosters gave him a chance and he screwed it up big time - all this after winning the Dally M medal award twelve months earlier. I just hope Jake Friend doesn't go down the same road after his great season this year.