Editors note: Since this article was published, the Cronulla Sharks have terminated the contract of five-eighth Todd Carney.
Cronulla Sharks five-eighth Todd Carney has found himself in trouble once again. I’ve now lost count how many times he has gotten himself into strife due to alcohol-related issues.
Last night The 2010 Dally M Medalist was photographed urinating into his own mouth while standing at a public toilet urinal. The photo has since gone viral.
The 28-year-old has already been banned from the Canberra Raiders and the Sydney Roosters for alcohol-fuelled issues, and he has form in nightclub urinals as well.
I’m not too sure where I stand on this. There is no doubt that is disgusting and an embarrassment for him. But it’s not illegal. Once again he has damaged his reputation.
He wasn’t hurting anyone except himself, his own image and the image of the game, especially seeing as Cronulla are still on the hunt for a jersey sponsor.
He and his family must be so embarrassed.
It is not known yet who took the photo or if it was shared against Carney’s wishes. Whoever took the photo and distributed it is just as dumb as Carney is for doing it.
It is unclear what action the Cronulla Sharks or the NRL will take against Carney, but reports indicate this could spell the end of his career at the club.
No one has made a statement on the future of Carney as of the time of writing, but club officials are said to have contacted Carney with a ‘please explain’.
Editors note: Carney has since been sacked by the club, with the NRL supporting the stance taken by Cronulla.
Gary McDonald
Guest
even the Anita Cobby killers had their day in court some of the comments here are pathetic and show how backwards we really are. Oh it was in the press it must be true any 1st year graphic arts student could tell you the photo is fake. How many on that cronulla board even know how to turn a computer on let alone heard of photoshop?
Albo
Guest
Gandhi used a cup ! He was a gentleman ! That's where Carney fell down ! No manners !
mushi
Guest
Yep because the only incident in living memory involving a rugby league player is the carney bubbler
Albo
Guest
Or he could have used ......he has been considering a career move and was rehearsing for the lead role in "Ghandi II" !
Albo
Guest
But Hurrell has only been caught once by social media ! Hopefully for him he now learns a lesson for his own sake. Carney is a weekly attraction on social media boasting multiple NRL and Club warnings & 3 x club sackings on his rap sheet ! He has had a dozen "one last chances" !
Albo
Guest
I can just see it now ! The lure to get Carney to Cronulla ! Not only will we give you $650k a year, but we will reserve you a seat near the window at Northies ! Nothing ever goes wrong there at night ! You'll love it !
Scrubbit
Guest
I'm sure there will be some meaningless article about how several clubs are interested, but Brisbane will be the only ones named. It'll read something like "Broncs line up to take the p155".
dr katz
Guest
To be forever now known as "bubbler boy".
nopuritan
Guest
so carney, or more correctly, someone close to carney screwed up and posted a photo online, that shouldnt have been posted online. and then the guy gets sacked apparently without the opportunity for him to explain or the club to investigate the circumstances of the photo being posted. as everyone is aware this drinking related incident derives as much from the players personality as the professional culture in which he exists. rugby league and alcohol have had a close commercial relationship since, i suspect 1908. the NRL has a co-dependent relationship with alcohol and that co-dependency extends throughout the organisation and culture of rugby league. in this context carney is neither an ogre nor an idiot but rather a victim. I would argue he has been set up to fail. Not that his alcoholism is a result of any grand and complex conspiracy but rather, as our broader society shows, not everyone can handle alcohol. carney's troubles are really a reflection of what happens everyday in australia; a certain percentage of people, while drunk, make fools of themselves. Carney's punishment sacking/deregistration, is not really about him or what he has done. it is rather about the NRL's policy to destroy individuals in preference to acknowledging and addressing it's own complicity (by it's commercial dependency on alcohol) in perpetuating a culture of addiction. the NRL is well overdue for some real action on it's commercial relationships with legal drug pushers. and what of the players as role models argument? that's a parental cop-out. akin to 'let them learn sex education at school". the message for parents and kids here is about alcohol, not about todd carney. and at the risk of getting this comment "moderated"...while ive been typing ive been viewing an advertising message on this page which says "bring your father to an exclusive whisky masterclass. After all, spending time with your family deserves a whisky passed down through ours". Ironic, but not enough to convince me to have a snort for brekky. think i'll have a spliff instead. considerably less harmful!
The Barry
Guest
What the hell are you talking about? Why has the NRL changed his name from star??? Are you fair dinkum? Well he's not called player because he isn't any more.
The Barry
Guest
This is the action of one person and he's been sacked within 24 hours. To write off an entire sport (with the exception of tim mannah) makes as much sense as drinking your own urine.
The Barry
Guest
Jo - is that how low our opinion of carney has become that we defend him with : at least he was weeing into his own mouth in the toilet and not in the public bar....
Chivas
Guest
I think the NRL should ditch him. It's there brand. If it was my business I wouldn't need this. It does nothing to promote the game. At the end of the day, their business, highly paid players... their choice. As an employee on the big bucks, there is can expectation. Already the bar is set pretty low. Carney just finds new lows...
Danos
Guest
A 'drinking' problem indeed! Good riddance to the muppet. Won't be missed
PhillNZ
Guest
I see he is now Todd Carney , no mention of NRL player , star , super star or all star. Can some on e tell me why the NRL have these name changes and why they don't mention him as a star????
Mushi
Guest
You got some strange thresholds for validity
Jak
Guest
To be a league player and harass woman in a night club requires an inquiry, but to be seen peeing in own mouth, which involves no other person gets instant dismal. No inquiry. While publicly seen as abhorrent, I think, by reading previous comments most people privately don't give a damn, just a dumb act, bet, dare what ever. Just another footballer being stupid while another takes a photo. And how/why did it end up in the public domain?
Doug Graves
Guest
"Whole thing is bad taste." LOL! Touche Cadfael!
Huggo
Guest
That sums it up for me too. What a shame, after months of negatives, and a terrible month of not troubling the scorers, the Sharkies finally get the chance to have some positive headlines written about them with their come from behind win on Friday, and within 36 hours an act of idiocy from one of their high profile players has sent it all out the window. You can't say this is only hurting himself. He is hurting the club, his teammates, the sharks fans and the image of the NRL. Idiot has to go never to return!
mattray
Guest
Carneys actions were disgraceful but how we're they worse than Konrad hurrel circulating a sex tape. That was demeaning to women and illegal as he was driving during the sex act and he was stood down for 1 game. I think it looked worse because it was todd carney