There are certain clubs that have such a strong culture that bad apples are quickly crushed.
Brisbane under Bennett and Melbourne under Bellamy appear to be clubs with such a culture – hence their record of success over the last decade.
In such environments it is also the senior playing group that has a role in keeping the team’s off field behaviour tight – as the coach cannot hold his players’ hands 24/7. The elders like Lockyer and Cam Smith watch over the younger more susceptible characters in the team and show them how devoted they need to be to their training.
Cronulla appear to me to be a club ill-equipped to deal with the herculean task of turning Todd Carney into a sober, consistent performer.
It is also the wrong kind of place. Cronulla is a playground for a young guy predisposed to partying – with its combination of beach, beer and babes. You can just see it now: Todd Carney racking up his frequent fighter miles up at Northeys.
The Roosters had a disciplinarian coach in Brian Smith and some old heads like Anthony Minichiello around and they were still not able to keep Carney in check. Granted, there were some counter balancing influences at the club, namely Nate Miles and Anthony Watts.
For a self-confessed alcoholic the geographical situation of a club will be the key. Living five minutes from Kings Cross was probably more temptation than the troubled young player could handle. While there are pubs everywhere, one is left with an uneasy feeling when you think of Carney in Cronulla.
A huge question for the Sharks will be what stance they take with Carney’s drinking. Zero tolerance clearly failed at the Roosters, however, a lackadaisical approach to alcohol will not work when you are talking about someone with long term alcoholism.
The comments from Sharks Chairman Damian Irvine yesterday, are cause for concern: ‘When you ask people to make big promises and they get broken, you find yourself having issues … I like a drink, we all like a drink, I think drinking’s a huge part of society … Todd hasn’t really done a lot wrong this year from what I can see”.
Paul Gallen has certainly turned his own career around. 2011 was a break out year when the bustling forward was able to channel his aggression in all the right ways. His performances in the three Origin Games as captain revealed an admirable character. Gallen leads by example on the field but he does not strike me as a man with the maturity even at this stage of his career to set the right example off it.
If Carney is to turn things around he will need to find self-discipline and I doubt that Gallen is an expert on the topic, he appears at times to still be teetering on the edge himself.
We have seen so many troubled footballers (in all codes) given second chances in the last few years and the numbers would suggest that as many fail as succeed. The demons tend to follow the player to their new club.
Carney will be tempted to sign with any club willing to take a punt on him, but in reality he needs the right environment. I would be telling him to steer clear of the Shire.
Jaceman
Guest
Gallen of course racially sledged Saints Micky Paea but I think it was heat of the moment remark which was blown out of proportion..
Joe Karsay
Expert
It's a done deal the Sharks have signed Carney....
soapit
Guest
its only their responsibility in that they've taken him and his baggage into their fold and he now has the potential to derail/unsettle things. he's responsible for himself but he's a fair chance to take the club down(ish) with him they need to have a plan to prevent it happening. they've taken on the risk and now they have to manage it.
sledgeross
Guest
Does anyone know what Oikee actually was trying to say? I reckon he drinks more than Todd Carney and then posts on the Roar!
mushi
Guest
So you shoudln't get the sack for committing to your employer to do something and then not doing it?
greg
Guest
He will be fine. He should never have been sacked from the Roosters, anyway. Reporters talk about him like he's a train wreck. One minor scrape with the law that could happen to anybody and an ill-advised player-imposed booze ban. Big deal!
josho
Guest
Poor article written by someone who wouldn't perhaps follow the dragons?
sk
Guest
" The elders like Lockyer and Cam Smith watch over the younger more susceptible characters in the team" > darren lockyer > cocain > your argument is invalled
Paul
Guest
What a load of dribble. Definately a supporter from another club trying to secure Carney's signature, and trying to come across as a neutral spectator! Funny he says that he shouldnt be at Cronulla due to the shire atmosphere, does this person have any idea the amount of NRL players that live there? Most of them have nothing to do with Cronulla! Beer , booze and babes you say, what a load of it, it is not that far different from any sydney beach such as Bondi or Maroubra, he could just as easily get him self into trouble in the city. Gallen doesnt seem to be mature, are you a psychologist too mate? He has been leading the club extremely well enough to be selected as NSW captain.
Kanos
Guest
Jealousy already is alive and well I see. Carney will be a Shark and a great success. Once the $300 million dollar development goes through, everyone will have to choose another Sydney to pick on to relocate won't they. Unfortunately for all you new era dreamers out there,this game,like it or not,was founded on NSW clubs in Sydney with years of tradition...the game has learnt already a valuable lesson in the way it cuts clubs and that is, if you do it by a knife and force a club out without the blessing of the fans and supporters of the game, it will hurt for a long long time. Rugby League is dead for thousands of North Sydney Bears fans on the northern side of Sydney,they probably watch ping-pong instead rather than support Manly or the game in any great detail. Clubs like Cronulla have been around for over 40 years, you can't just decide to cut them out or force them to relocate because you deem them the team who would prosper better somewhere else for your visual pleasure. It's their call,let them decide their own future,they are the ones offered an NRL licence to sign each year and must be meeting their obligations to the game in some way for the NRL to grant them a licence to play in the competition. I don't live in Sydney any more but I love the old Sydney clubs still being in the competition rubbing it in the noses of so many new aged footy fans who only care about watching eight 100% perfect games each week on their TV screens. Who cares. People love Rugby League because they can support a team, kill the teams off by pushing them into a corner or putting a knife to their throat with the sole aim for " product perfection " and it's a recipe for disaster. That's why the NRL don't even talk publicly any more about cutting clubs or " squeezing " them out like they did to South Sydney a few years ago. Good luck to the Sharks and all those other great traditional Sydney Clubs who soldier on each year for their fans and for the value in continuing to piss off all those armchair bandits watching the game on TV who want to kill you off so they have a better chance to watch 8 perfect games of football with every club equal in their ability. It's never been the way and IT NEVER WILL BE....GET OVER IT. The cycle of footy for 100 years suggests The Sharks will have their success stories again and another club will also have their dark days ahead.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
I agree with what you are saying, but what no-one seems to be able to answer is why is it the employers responsibility? I am bloody sure if I went to any boss I have ever worked for and said "I am an alcoholic and it is your resposibility to provide 'structured support' and help me overcome this" I am pretty sure I would not have got a positive response. And I have worked for some great bosses and companies. He needs to make sure he gets the help He needs. Quite honestly the way that "sports stars" are molly-coddled and have the world served up on a platter is a major contributing factor in creating these issues.
oikee
Guest
Forget Carney being a disaster, Cronulla are a disaster and this post would be so much more interesting if we were talking about carney signing for the Perth Sharks, or as someone keeps telling me, the Perth Western Reds. Rugby league is a pimple that needs to be squeezed, shaking and dare i say, stirred, into a reality that does not scream, Small time hooker. As for Captain Gallen, it is like the blind leading the blind. Gallen is nothing more than a good forward who should in a realistic world be a good signing for the Perth Sharks, again, Perth Western Reds. Yes i have had a few, but gee whiz, i have just discovered Brisbane's newest hotspot, which our brain dead un-immagitive wannabies cant see, maybe the trees are getting in the road. Geez. Dont get to excited, that hotspot is not even thought of yet, as are bridges, more bridges for Brisbane. Brisbane is the city of Bridges, they just have not woke up entirely yet.
apaway
Guest
I agree with the sentiment Rabbitz, but if Carney has been diagnosed as alcoholic it is simply not something that he can overcome without structured support. Of course the responsibility is ultimately his own but this is not just an "attitude" it is an illness and the Cronulla club have to make sure that there are more options than just "Gallen as mentor" to make this work.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Johnno You live there mate do you,by your describing the bogan culture?Or an just the run of the mill outsider who reads the odd story in the print media or seen something in the electronic media and generalises for argument's sake.. There are no more pubs per capita than anywhere else. I have lived there all my life.It is no more bogan ,larrikin,than any subsurb beachside,innercity or outer suburban,area. The beach has a direct connection with the rail,unlike other beaches. Carney can get on the hit and miss in any suburb.It is up to him in the end. NB the culture of Australia has a larrikin streak in it.
sledgeross
Guest
Sharks have a strong record for dealing with players who break the law. Greg Bird, gone. Tevita Latu, gone. Dont think Carney has broken too many laws lately. If roughhead pro's like Gallen, Jeremy Smith etc cant keep him in line, then he shouldnt be playing in the NRL. One last chance Todd, dont blow it.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
I have heard a whisper that he won't be going to the Sharks, he might become a Dragon. The word is that the Dragons will: - drop Moltzen saving $300K per year - sign Carney for about $200K per year - use Soward and Carney in interchangeable roles ... half & five eight - Ben Hornby to replace Boyd at fullback The Dragons have plenty of room under the salary cap (saving on Gasnier's money and Moltzen was being signed for less than Boyd was paid) ... plenty of pluses for the Dragons if Carney can consistently produce his best.
Johnno
Guest
Lots of pubs down the shire way, and alarrikan bogna culture in the shire to, not what todd needs.
Meesta Cool
Guest
verything that can possibly be said about this 'clown' has already been written. Two clubs have had to offload him -- after paying him VERY GOOD money. both clubs recieved what I believe to be a 'kick in the Butt' by this guy still being able to play the gam for another club.. Carney should be given another chance ... BUT, Roosters should be recompensed for his salary from last year. where he took the money on 'false pretences... Carney should be made to pay this money and money for one season back to both Roosters and Raiders. This should be deducted from his wage over the next three seasons.. (If he stays out of strife this long. .)
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Frankly, it is not the club nor Gallens' responsibility. It is Carney's. He has been given more chances and more support than anyone could reasonably expect from an employer. What ever the outcome is up to him and him alone.
JVGO
Guest
Worth the gamble for the Sharks. Carney will be aware it is his last chance. They have good young halves who are still developing so if he fails they have back ups. Any misdemeanours he must be gone however. This gives the Sharks a chance to appear tolerant but firm. They cannot afford any ongoing saga. First strike he needs to be gone. This is why they haven't imposed a pointless alcohol ban. He wouldn't last a month. It has to be something serious.Oh hang on aren't the Wallabies looking for a playmaker?