Roosters star Todd Carney’s career could be over. (AAP Image/Sergio Dionisio)
So, it took about 3.674 seconds for Todd Carney to seriously be linked with another NRL team. Every person willing to stick up for the former Dally M medallist seems to think that because “he’s a good kid” he deserves another chance.
Err … ok.
Given that is apparently good enough, in some people’s books, to earn another last, last, last, last, last, last chance after the other last chance that was his last chance it’s time we consider what type of contract the five-eighth should sign.
If we’re being realistic, it should have no strings attached.
No five-point-plans, no pledges, no promises, no requirements other than to train and play.
Anything else is sending any club and the player himself down a familiar road that ends with Carney leaving by “mutual consent”.
I’ve got no doubt that Carney is as they say “a good kid”.
In the hours leading up to last year’s grand final, which the Roosters lost to St George Illawarra, I interviewed Mick Nasser. He’s the man who took Carney away to the Atherton Roosters and placed him behind a bar as a form of rehabilitation.
Nasser vouched for his character and emphasised that he’s just a normal bloke in his 20s.
But that’s the problem.
Some blokes in their twenties like to have a drink with their mates. Some blokes in their twenties in Sydney like to go to Kings Cross and some don’t like rules or boundaries that much.
Unfortunately for him, that’s not conducive to fitting into a team culture sometimes.
Yes, Carney has had more lives than a litter of kittens and he probably doesn’t deserve another chance to be rich and famous by playing rugby league. But you can bet someone will offer him the chance.
Whoever that is though would be foolish to place restrictions on him if they don’t want it to end in tears.
They need to be prepared to deal with a photo of Carney in the newspaper with a beer and not be surprised when people think ‘here we go again’.
If no-one cares what Carney does outside of playing and training then he may actually be able to play out his career without another incident.
Yes, there’s a rap sheet as long as a December day, but surely if he’s offered another lifeline his days of dancing with the law will be over.
Is anyone that silly?
Maybe that should be the only stipulation. If he’s charged and proved guilty then cut him loose. Otherwise it’s buyer beware and hope for the best.
Is it fair to any future team-mates? No, definitely not. Is it the ugly truth? Who knows, it may well be.
Pacman
Guest
Todd deserves some time out of the media spotlight. He can't have a claytons in his own basement without the telegraph putting him on the front page. The media in this country is disgusting.
Bakkies
Guest
Almost is the key word. He probably thought about it for 5 minutes
Droppa
Guest
Wow! Surprise,surprise. Another negative article by you about the NRL. By of course its your usual a low rent article of little gravitas, so who care's
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
He is very unwell and needs comprehensive medical help without the stresses of pro footy. get better and then play.
JAJI
Guest
No doubt Danny Weidler will be in the papers this weekend defending him as he is a "good kid" Thats the NRL in a nutshell
st penguin
Guest
Apparently Bennett almost signed him to the Dragons acouple of years ago.
scott
Guest
i'd like to see Todd collecting trolleys at the local woolies
Cugel
Roar Rookie
When he (or anyone else) plays up at Club A, they can't do nothing or just brush it off, else they'll be pilloried to death. Club B, not being his hand holder at the time, can dodge that bullet, and get a decent player on the books.
Corey R
Guest
Very Good. A Bit of grace from a club may go a long long way. Sometimes its the concentrating on what mustnt i do, that leads a person, especially when theyve failed in an area before, to make them believe that they are going to end up in the same pit.
Rugby Diehard
Roar Rookie
My pick is he'll play Rugby Union in Europe - probably France. I am unaware of any link to this and don't want him in the my preferred code of Rugby but the reality is he would earn similar if not slightly more money and be completely under the radar for any off-field antics. aka Craig Gower. I agree with all saying he is not a "good kid" . Let's face it most of us who were a bit wild in our late teens and early twenties had the respect to listen to those older and wiser than ourselves and adjust our behaviour accordingly. A prize turkey in my opinion. Bakkies - hit it right on the head - he's no kid so grow up turkey.....
Matt F
Guest
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice (or in Todds case 10-15 times,) shame on me.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I don't understand people like Sticky saying that he would really nuckle down now if picked up by a club, because this is his last chance. Hello? He has had 50 already!! AndI agree with Bakkies. Everyone is saying he is a good kid. No he isn't. If he was, he would have stopped being an idiot in Canberra. But he has consistently thrown all the good will back into people's faces.
Bakkies
Guest
And getting rid of d..heads. Sick of people calling him a kid he is a grown man in his mid 20s.
Johnno
Guest
"All we are saying is give Todd a chance lol"
Ken
Guest
Is it that Carney wouldn't run amok under Wayne Bennett, or that Wayne Bennett would never coach Carney? To re-phrase, has Wayne Bennett's reputation been built on transforming blokes like this or staying away from blokes like this?
Football United
Guest
I'd like to see Todd get out of the spotlight and have a go at french rugby for a year or two to get his life on track again. Being in sydney it seams he is still having the same issues as in canberra and i think a year out of the country might do him good.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The Sharks chairman David Írvine has knocked the idea on the head.Another door slammed shut.
Weatherman
Guest
Sharks I believe Voodoo people. (Nod to excellent taste in Prodigy music). For mine it's all about culture. Would Carney run amok under Wayne Bennett? That seems very unlikely to me. Strong coach, strong club culture, worthy peers.
voodoo people
Guest
Who is he linked to? Canterbury?