Todd Carney is suing Cronulla for close to $3 million in what he calls a bid to protect fellow players.
The troubled former Australian playmaker was sacked by the NRL club in June last year after a lewd photo purporting to show him urinating in his own mouth emerged online.
Carney and his lawyers on Monday met with the Rugby League Players Association as he prepares to sue the club for unfair dismissal.
Earlier in the year he won a claim before the NRL Appeals Committee after he argued they denied him a chance to plead his case before the club board.
The former NSW State of Origin halfback said he learned of his sacking from teammate Wade Graham before being given the chance to give his side of the story.
“I feel I was harshly done by. Some people don’t,” Carney told the Nine Network.
“I want it to be cleaned up because I think one day the club might think back to what’s happened to me and it might help another player.”
Carney resumed his playing career in France with Super League club Catalans and last month signed a three-year contract extension.
However he did not rule out a return to Australia, saying he still got goosebumps watching the game.
Carney has a lengthy rap sheet, having previously been sacked by Canberra and Sydney Roosters for alcohol-related issues.
He was axed by the Raiders in 2008 after being accused of urinating on a patron in a nightclub while he was let go by the Roosters for breaching an alcohol ban in 2011, the year after guiding them to the premiership and winning the Dally M.
While he has a chequered past, his lawyer Julieanne Levick said Cronulla had not followed due process by allowing him a hearing.
“If they had acted reasonably in the first instance we wouldn’t be here now,” she said.
“It would’ve been settled.”
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I wonder if many people actually understand the difference between a modern, democratic system versus a pre-modern one.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The presence of evidence doesn't actually prove anything - you're stil entitled to put your case forward. If this wasn't in place employers could sack whoever they wanted whenever they wanted. "yeah, don't come in Monday, we've got this evidence you see."
The Barry
Roar Guru
The $3 million is fantasy to - as Richard says - get media attention. But this may be a bigger settlement than people think Carmey is entitled to. Say he was on a 500k a year and two years left to run. Now he's on a fraction of that coin and forced to live overseas away from family, etc. There has to be a process followed. I've been a people manager for 10 years or so. Any time you want to discuss performance or disciplinary action you have to follow a strict process. ANY deviation can destroy the whole regardless of how major or minor it is. You can't call someone and say "come on in so we can fire you". No way. Hypothetically Carmey could have proven he was somehwere else and claimed it was a look-a-like, that the photo was digitally altered, that it was ten years old, that it was set up to look like he was wizzing in his own face but he wasn't really, that it was a fake wang filled with lemonade, etc, etc. All very, very unlikely I know but Cronulla never gave him the chance before they sacked him because they didn't follow due process.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
If you're being accused of something, you have the right to dispute the evidence being used against you. If you cannot dispute that evidence then the accusation stands. Due process has it's place in a modern society.
SpongeBob
Guest
"a fair hearing on the way to being terminated" If you're fired, what's the hearing for? For example let's say I told a competitor company secrets which is grounds for instant dismissal (and there's evidence so it's not a debate). I need a fair hearing first?
SpongeBob
Guest
I'm no HR legal person so it's purely my guessing. I'm not sure you need a formal meeting etc? And even then, $3 million damages? I find the best way to approach things are always by making a similar scenario. Let's say you work at ANZ. You've been "bubbling" while wearing your ANZ shirt. It's all over the news. You're called to tell you're fired. Ok, maybe you didn't get to tell your side, however assuming there is strong evidence (which there is) - what could you possibly sue on? I'm not sure you'd even get $10,000 for being told over the phone vs "come in, so we can fire you".
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Okay I'll take your word for it then. Honestly ol' Toddy has more front than myers to try this on. My personal pride would make me distance myself as far as possible from anything to do with this tawdry situation, but that's me. I agree that he did deserve a fair hearing on the way to being terminated - just like any workplace. Shame for sharkies fans. The team are starting to get some success finally. Chin up.
pete bloor
Guest
I'm sure the truth probably lies, as per usual, in between the two sides stories
Richard Maybury
Guest
No, it is normal in these things to put up a ludicrously high figure as you never know what a judge will decide and lawyers don't want to limit his thinking.
Richard Maybury
Guest
Bit of backside covering by the sharks I think but I am sure that is the line they will take.
pete bloor
Guest
I remember something from the sharks, or a sharks source, saying he'd already received formal warnings prior for other incidents and that they were off the view that their legal options didn't require a explanation or right of reply at that point. It could of all been BS though.
pete bloor
Guest
As was this I think... let go by the Roosters for breaching an alcohol ban in 2011, the year after guiding them to the premiership... I think you need to win the actual grand final to get the premiership.
Kingcowboy
Guest
Yer I can handle the bananas, i can't see that coming back to bite me in anyway shape or form with that crowd.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Surely the $3m is a typo.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don't feel sorry for the club...I feel for the fans.
Richard Maybury
Guest
I don't feel sorry for the club, in many ways they deserve a massive slap on the wrist. After all, this stuff is HR 101 stuff we are talking about here. Its just that the man that would receive this compo is even less deserving than Cronulla are stupid.
Joel Rigby
Guest
How can you feel sorry for the club. stupid is stupid does.
up up cronulla
Guest
Thank steve noyce interim ceo he hated carney
Richard Maybury
Guest
" if he’s sueing the lawyer would have some form of confidence." I am certain that his lawyer has every confidence in getting his fee. Lawyers will tell you anything is winnable if there is something in it for them. In this case, I reckon Todd would win but that the compensation will be low. I don't think it will set Todd up for life which is what I reckon he is looking for.
Richard Maybury
Guest
I don't deny that he was entitled to due process which is why he is almost guaranteed a win, I just hope that the judge in granting him his win then awards him the compensation he truly deserves - nothing.