Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith believes Todd Carney’s drink driving charge could ultimately be the reality check that reminds the talented playmaker that his journey to NRL redemption is far from over.
The reformed bad boy lapsed back to his old ways when charged with drink driving on Saturday, but while disappointed with his actions, the Roosters have vowed to stick by the 24-year-old.
Sacked in disgrace by Canberra in 2008 after a string of disciplinary breaches, Carney spent 2009 regathering in park football before making a stunning return last year.
So great was his comeback that Carney captured the Dally M Medal and a debut Test jumper, but Smith said there was still plenty of work for his young star to undertake.
“My understanding of where Toddy is, was, and is going to is that it doesn’t end,” Smith said.
“I think some of the events of last season and the way people around him and everywhere responded to him may have sent him a false message that he’d reached the end.
“I’m no expert on it but I think that type of issue is something that goes on and on and you have to keep facing up to it.”
Asked about his initial reaction when told of the charge, Smith said:
“Disappointment in the main.
“He’s very remorseful – I’ve never met a footy player that wants to bring shame and disappointment to the people in the club that have supported him … he’s as remorseful as anyone else would be in that situation.”
Carney was caught via a random breath test about 7am AEDT on Coogee Bay Rd Coogee on his way to a meeting with his manager.
He blew a reading of 0.052, but is not permitted any alcohol in his system as a P-Plate driver, forcing a visit to the police station and subsequent charge.
Having shown so much faith in Carney, Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce said the club would stay the course, though he admitted Carney had shredded plenty of goodwill.
“The timing is far from perfect and I know Todd’s beside himself, he knows he’s let a lot of people down,” Noyce told Triple M.
“But it’s happened now and it’s how you come out the other side, from Todd and the club’s point of view, that’s the most important thing.
“To the kid’s credit he did a lot last year to turn his image around.
“It doesn’t justify in any way shape or form what’s happened, but the amount of work and the spotlight that young man was under last year, he played some brilliant football and did some amazing community things.
“He’s got some credit points but unfortunately he soon got rid of those this morning.”
Noyce said it was too early to determine what action the club would take.
“We’ll make sure Todd’s okay, because he’s an intelligent young man and knows a lot of people have gone in to bat for him and he’s really been disrespectful in so many ways to them and the game,” he said.
“But in saying that he’s a young man who’s made a mistake and in the next 24 hours we make sure he’s okay and that will do.”
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