Carney joins North Sydney Bears

As a long term North Sydney and in turn Souths supporter I’m finding this situation a bit disappointing. At worst Carney could offer the bunnies quality emergency cover, the young guys at North’s are quite a way off being ready for NRL- Carney could offer some mentoring to them and make them better players for Souths in the long run. The relationship has worked very well for both parties for over a decade, this appears terribly short sighted and it’s not as if Souths players ate all cleanskins- Sutton lost the captaincy for playing up and I’m sure I recall Cody Walker being in trouble with the law during his time at Brisbane Easts and George Burgess got drunk and smacked up a car while in Townsville - (not to mention recent player issues- L Burgess, K Auvua, A Gray and D Walker).

Give Reynolds a go Steven. He has had very interrupted seasons due to multiple injuries for the past two years and we as Souths fans have seen a huge improvement in his game the last couple of weeks with nothing to suggest he isn’t going to get better and better. The dragons game was his best in a couple of years and I’m backing him to get back to 2014 when he was one of the top halves in the game. We will have to agree to disagree on wether or not Carney should get a go at Souths... look at the roosters with Cronk.... he’s in his 30s as well. Has two years in him. Punted a very good half in Pearce (like Reynolds is for south sydney) who probably would of been there his whole career. He’s still only 25/26. Punted him for a chance at quick success. The roosters have been nothing short of garbage. I fear Souths will do the exact same thing go back to garbage trying to fit a new half into the system and culture of the team, by the time carney and Cronk click with the respective teams, they will be retiring.

With all due respect kk, the bloke hasn't had much footy lately, he's been out of top notch NRL for quite a while, which needs upgrading and its not beyond a great player like Todd. That's is why and if he would start in Intrust Super Premiership would improve those skills and get him back to his best.

Just have a look at some of these from Todd Carney https://youtu.be/waPDCoUqtT0

Mate, for starters 'Farah' is nowhere to be seen and might get a game in SOO time for Souths (when and if D. Cook is picked) let’s see how he goes? Also, it might be that Reynolds and Walker are 'very handy players' and to 'have John Sutton who can slide into the 6 for covers' might be ok for now but, what about for the future like 2019 and beyond? Sutton won't last and his form won't continue. Adam Doueihi is a good player but, he’s not in the league of Carney and never ever will be! As far as I'm concerned, yes its a big call but, Reynolds is not our 1/2 going forward in todays NRL, he's too prone to injury (yes he's a great kicker and goal kicker) but so is Carney in that respect. Reynolds is nowhere near as good a player as Carney is or was in the 1/2's, he just doesn’t have the toughness and/or skills like Carney has shown 'time and time' gain that he can do an exceptional job, if anything, he's very similar to Maloney, where, he went from the Roosters (where he was exceptional) to the Sharks where he continued his exceptional skills also, bar his stupidities at both of these clubs, which ended his contract and career in the NRL. If Souths are to go forward then, they really have to concentrate on our 1'2's as A. Reynolds is not doing the job and C. Walker is just hanging in there doing it doing it for Reynolds, to get us by. Lets see how we go against the Warriors 'which will be a big test' even though Shaun Johnson is out, because, the last time we met the Warriors, they absolutely smashed us, we never ever looked like winning that game in Perth and Reynolds was very ordinary and didnt do anything to inspire anything against Johnson and/or the Warriors! In this game Cody Walker scored 2 tries and Adam Reynolds scored 2 goals out of 4, we scored 4 tries to the Warriors 6 tries and Shaun Johnson kicked 3 goals, hence the 32 to 20 score. Can you imagine Carney and Walker in the half's and what they could do, they would be absolutely devastating for our attack and get our forwards going like the top sides that are in the NRL today! It will be a big mistake if Carney and the Bears are let go, you mark my words!

Agree with your reasoning , steveng. Would still want Todd to submit to stringent medical and fitness tests. Reports out of Townsville indicated he did not impress on the track.

To answer your question in regards to Farah, StevenG, Farah had a years contract paid for by another club. An international and the incumbent NSW 9. He also had no misdemeanours to his name. At the time our club had just lost Isaac Luke and had two very talented “young hookers” who were the only hookers on our books. It was unknown how these kids would go playing week in and week out in the NRL. Obviously a couple of seasons in they are now more experienced and are both the dominant Hookers for NSW fighting it out for a blue jersey. But how were Souths to know this. My point is that I Back Souths stance on this as they have two halves there in Walker and Reynolds who are very handy players. Both with plenty of NRL experience. They also have John Sutton who can slide into the 6 for cover if need be who is also experienced. Souths using North’s as a nursery for our future halves, (Hawkins, Tracey and Doughie) is not a negative thing. We do not need Carney for cover. We do not need him for our 22nd title. We do not need the media scrutiny that follows him wherever he goes waiting for him to mess up as he has done 7 times now. Yes that’s right 7 chances and each time everyone says he should get another chance he has changed if he stuffs up again he should be banned for life! How many times will we say this?

Yes, that might be true 'Chris morrison' but, what did Souths do with Farah? They took his contract over (from the Wests/Tigers knowing that they will get him with minimal pay) and for me, the only reason for that was, for Farah to kick D. Cook , mainly, up the ass, as Cameron McInnes (who was a diehard loyal Souths player) was always on the chop and to be let go? Figure that one out after what Cameron is doing at the Dragons? What I think that they should do with Carney is the same as Farah, within their half’s, where Reynolds is hot and cold and C. Walker can’t do it on his own and injury will affect Souths greatly if these guys are out. Carney is potentially an outstanding player in those positions (7 or 6) and with the stringent (supposedly) Souths culture, he could be integrated into that and he could teach youngsters like Adam Doueihi his football skills. For god’s sake, the bloke has played SOO and played for Australia, he’s been one of the top 5 players in the NRL, not some hack that all the media has made him out to be and have made headlines with! The bloke wants to go forward that is my opinion and I predict that whoever picks Todd Carney up and gives him another chance and fits him into an appropriate club culture, will benefit greatly from Todd Carney’s tremendous skills! By my assumptions, Todd wants to play in the NRL and that is where he has shown his best and his worst, hopefully and from now on, we will see Todd carney's best and exceptional skills, so we can all admire his skills of what a great player he is and always was!

I think the stance taken from Souths has little to do with Carney's off-field record. Someone in the know at Souths told me that they don't want carney at Norths because they want their young players playing halves at Norths. If Carney plays it'll be at the expense of one of the up-and-comers and that's what Souths have an issue with

Can any Souths fans tell me if there's an agenda there between these two clubs? Don't want him in Souths colours, don't pick him. Why cut off access to 30 young fellas for the sake of Carney? At best it sounds like a convenient excuse to part ways.

@steveng Well said. You're pretty much spot on!

@CJ "Souths need look elsewhere for a feeder club as the Bears have proved unworthy" How so? You could at least back up such a statement with an arguement to back it up!

Come off it CJ! What is all this nonsense ‘Would those saying that he has paid for his crime and should be allowed back employ a peadophile (btw its spelled paedophile) in a school when he gets out of jail, or an gambling addict at the TAB or an alcoholic at a pub?’ This is bit of a long bow to stretch! Todd Carney was wrong in what he has done but, we all did some pretty crazy things when we were his age and if you would hold that against everyone then, no one would be holding any positions in our society. And then you go on with another ridiculous thing, that is wrong ‘The last place you want Carney is around young players’ what, do you know Todd Carney? Carney had nothing to do with kids and whatever you are insinuating! My moto in life is ‘You Do The Crime, You Do The Time’ which is an appropriate justice within our laws, we live in a democratic society ( I would have thought) and that is irrespective, if some of our laws are weak and unjust in some respects but, Todd Carney isn’t a paedophile, he isn’t a murderer and he isn’t a gambling addict! Yes, he was a fool and an idiot but, the bloke has stated that he has been rehabilitated and all the past is behind him. For me, this should be Todd Carney’s last chance, if he offends again, the NRL should ban him for life!

I see your point mate. Don’t really want to see Souths and norths divided for something that appears so minor, however I do not agree with you on Carney. You say that everyone deserves a second chance and I’m with you there but this bloke has had how many chances? I 100% back Souths on this stance. They want North’s to be a pathway to the NRL. Building the games of up and coming players to first grade. No room for Carney in that plan even though he is a very good player on the field.

Exactly, didn’t Souths let the Uave (can’t remebr his name) play after being convicted of domestic violence. Oh well their loss and Roosters gain.

Would those saying that he has paid for his crime and should be allowed back employ a peadophile in a school when he gets out of jail, or an gambling addict at the TAB or an alcoholic at a pub? Some people just shouldn't be in certain situations whether they have paid for their crimes or not The last place you want Carney is around young players Souths need look elsewhere for a feeder club as the Bears have proved unworthy

If they let Lodge play they should allow anyone to play

I am glad Carney is being given a chance to play here. I am of the opinion that he is deserving of a return to the NRL, controversial I know but he has done his time without any infringement. The knock-on effect from this signing will be interesting. First, where does he fit in to the Bears' squad? They already have Connor Tracey and Dean Hawkins in the halves, both are doing a great job. My better judgment says Carney will push Tracey to the bench. A move to hooker for Tracey would further complicate the battle for the No.9 between Billy Brittain, Robbie Farah and Josh Cook. Second, who do South Sydney seek as a feeder club if the split goes ahead. My thinking is that the West Coast Pirates could get the nod here but I wouldn't be surprised to see them abandon ship and jump over to the ISC, linking with a either CQ Capras or Souths Logan Magpies. Should Souths switch leaving 11 teams, it makes Fiji expansion much easier. Finally, If the Bears are to link up with the Sydney Roosters, what does their future entail? The Roosters have made their commitment to the Central Coast clear and want to maintain a feeder club there. Do the North Sydney Bears bite the bullet and become the Central Coast Bears? Could the North Sydney Bears even become a stand-alone club and build their case to bid for an NRL licence? Interesting times ahead and I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes on Saturday afternoon against Wentworthville.

Not sure this is very newsworthy. Carney was sitting on the bench in some Euro league. He isn't the same player. Does anyone even follow the reserves?

It also smacks of hypocrisy - Souths have or have had numerous players with disciplinary records on par with Carney's.