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Todd Carney

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Todd Carney
Personal information
Born (1986-06-02) 2 June 1986 (age 38)
Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight89 kg (14 st 0 lb)
Playing information
PositionFive-eighth, Halfback, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–2008 Canberra Raiders 71 29 34 6 198
2010–2011 Sydney Roosters 41 22 105 2 300
2012– Catalans Dragons
Total 112 51 139 8 498
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008 Country Origin 2 1 1 0 6
2010 Australia 1 0 2 0 4
As of 6 November 2010

Todd Carney (born 2 June 1986) is an Australian professional rugby league football player. Carney has represented Australia, Country New South Wales and, in the National Rugby League, the Canberra Raiders between 2003 and 2008, and then later the Sydney Roosters between 2010 and 2011. In 2010, Carney was awarded the Dally M Medal for player of the year.

A goal-kicking backline player, in 2008 Carney was de-registered as a player by the NRL for off-field misbehaviour. After a year living and playing in Far North Queensland, Carney returned to play in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters. Yet by mid-2011, Carney's alcohol-related off-field misbehaviours became widely known and he was released from his contract a year early, in September 2011. It is reported that Carney will join the North Queensland Cowboys in 2011.

Early life

Carney was born in Goulburn to parents Daryl "Darky" and Leanne Carney, and he has two sisters Krysten and Melinda.

After playing junior football in Goulburn, Carney was recruited to the Canberra Raiders junior academy at age twelve. Playing in the Jersey Flegg Championship, Carney's team were premier champions in 2003. He made his first grade debut the following year, at the age of 17 and, after a handful of appearances, he was named the Canberra Raiders' rookie of the year.[1]

Canberra Raiders had signed Jason Smith and Sam Peez who, in 2005, helped shape Carney's game. Despite only playing 11 games with a single try, Carney was rewarded with a starting position in the Junior Kangaroos annual fixture against Papua New Guinea, where he tallied a record 20 points.[citation needed]

Playing career

2006

2006 was Carney's breakthrough year where he cemented his position in first grade, scoring 12 tries in 18 games. Alongside Adam Mogg, he was the Raiders' leading try-scorer for 2006. His long range kicking also became a feature of his game, forcing numerous 40-20s. Carney won three games in extra time off 40 metre drop goals as Canberra finished in the Top 8. He was again selected in the Junior Kangaroos squad, where he was appointed captain.[1]

After an incident on 16 December 2006 in Goulburn, Carney was charged with drink driving and reckless driving. Following legal proceedings, in February 2007 Carney was suspended from driving a motor vehicle for five years.[2]

2007

Taking on the role of Five-eighth in 2007, Carney earned three Man of the Match awards from seven games. However his selection chances in the NSW Country Origin team were laid to rest due to another driving-related off-field misbehaviour. On 18 May 2007, despite being disqualified from driving, Carney drove a ute belonging to teammate Steve Irwin. Police began to pursue the vehicle after noticing the wheels of the ute momentarily lose traction as it went around a corner. Despite the police car having its sirens sounding and lights flashing, Carney refused to stop his speeding vehicle, leading police on a high-speed chase through the back streets of the Canberra suburb of Bruce. After turning into a dead-end street, Carney stopped the car and fled the scene on foot, leaving Irwin in the passenger seat. Irwin told police Carney was the driver. Police went to Carney's house, but he was not there, instead the police found 23 year old room mate Tom Witcombe who claimed he had not seen Carney since earlier that afternoon. The next morning, Carney turned himself in.[citation needed]

On Tuesday 12 June 2007, Carney appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court, pleading guilty to the charges of failing to stop when directed by police, negligent driving and driving while disqualified.[3] He escaped jail, but the Court placed Carney on a 12-month good behaviour order, banned him from driving until 2012,[4] and sentenced him to 200 hours of community service.[5][2] The Magistrate warned Carney that if he commits another offence he would "undoubtedly go to jail."[3] Controversially, the Canberra Raiders club sacked Irwin (who was not charged with any offences) over the incident, but retained Carney.[6] Carney was the Raiders' top try-scorer for the 2007 season.[1]

2008

Before the 2008 season, Carney began modelling his game on Johnathan Thurston in a bid to play representative football and was being personally coached by his life and childhood hero, Laurie Daley.[7] His 2008 pre-season was eventful as he became the subject of a three way battle between Canberra, Manly and Penrith. Eventually he re-signed with the Raiders until 2010 with an option for a further two years.[8]

Off-field misbehaviour continued to plague Carney's playing career and, on 20 July 2008, it was alleged he urinated on a man at a Canberra nightclub. The man had to undertake counseling to overcome the trauma of the incident.[9] Carney was suspended from participating in league matches and training while the allegations were investigated. The complaint was withdrawn two days later but Carney remained suspended for the round 21 match against the Gold Coast Titans.[10] The nightclub allegations sparked renewed interest in Carney's 2007 negligent driving charges when Steve Irwin claimed that Carney was intoxicated whilst driving at the time of the 2007 incident but he had been pressured by the club to remain quiet in an attempt to avoid a jail sentence for Carney.[11] The incident led to the club imposing an ultimatum on Carney which included a five point plan, whereby Carney would have to stand down from training and matches for the rest of the season; go on an alcohol ban until the end of 2012; undergo counselling; complete a community service program; and pay a $20,000 fine. The NRL threatened to de-register his contract for two years if Carney did not accept this plan in order to protect the Raiders from losing him to another club.[12] Carney asked for a variation of the plan where he could avoid points one and two. This was unacceptable to the club board.

On 7 August 2008, the Canberra club sacked Carney and terminated his $400,000 a season contract. Carney was de-registered by the NRL and would not be eligible to compete in the competition until 2010.[13][14]

Carney attempted to follow ex-Dragon's coach Nathan Brown to Huddersfield on a one year deal, but was unable to obtain a visa in late 2008 due to the drink driving offences.[15][16]

2009

Carney applied to the NRL in an effort to play for an Australian club in the 2009 season but in January the NRL stated that they would not accept registration of a contract for Todd Carney for that season.[16] In February 2009, Carney went on a vandalism spree in Goulburn, jumping on a car bonnet and damaging the entrance to a Fone Zone store. He received a 12-month suspended jail sentence, and was ordered to undertake alcohol counselling.[17]

In March 2009, the Canberra Raiders agreed to release Carney to play for the Atherton Roosters in the Cairns competition, in Far North Queensland.[18] Carney was assaulted by four men in Atherton on 10 May 2009.[19]

2010

After his season-long ban from the NRL expired, Carney joined the Sydney Roosters for the 2010 NRL season. He played his first game for the club against his old team the Atherton Roosters in a pre-season trial in Atherton.[20] After playing all of his football at Canberra in the halves he was shifted to fullback by Roosters coach Brian Smith. After his debut against South Sydney in a 36–10 victory, Carney was kept at fullback, only shifting into the halves to cover injuries or representative absentees until round 14 against the Melbourne Storm, when he was permanently switched to five-eighth, displacing captain Braith Anasta to lock.[21]

His switch to the halves was very successful, with the Roosters undertaking a five game winning streak soon after the move. Carney has formed an incisive attacking combination with his halves partner Mitchell Pearce and has also been a facilitator to his outside backs, with Anthony Minichiello and Shaun Kenny Dowall in particular showing increased productivity. In addition, he has taken on the kicking duties for the Roosters scoring over 200 points.[22]

In the regular season, Carney finished second on the top point scorers and goal kickers lists. He was named as the season's Dally M Medallist for the NRL's best player. He also won five-eighth of the year and the Provan-Summons (Peoples Choice) award. Todd Carney was named international player of the year for 2010.[23]

In December 2010, it was reported that Carney had injured himself after falling from his balcony while trying to gain entry to the building after locking himself out. He suffered no serious injuries.[24] Carney dated Seven Network television presenter Liz Cantor,[25] however broke up in January after 4 weeks.

2011

On 26 February 2011 it was reported that Carney will face a low-range drink driving charge. The Sydney Roosters confirmed that they would stand by him through this indiscretion. Just over a month later Carney was found to be involved with Anthony Watts when he was drinking on 16 April 2011. Following the second incident in three months, NRL management stood Carney down from Roosters indefinitely. Carney returned to the NRL with the round 10 clash against the Cronulla Sharks at Toyota Park,[26] and was required to receive treatment for his behavioural issues.[27] However in early August, Carney together with Nate Myles and Frank-Paul Nuuausala broke a team agreement to not touch alcohol for two weeks and all three players were subject to disciplinary hearings.[28] On 8 September 2011 it was announced that the Sydney Roosters would release Carney from the final year of his contract, following a request from Canrey's management.[29][30] Denied a working visa in the UK due to his criminal conviction, Carney is reportedly considering joining the French-based European Super League team, the Catalans or current NRL side, North Queensland Cowboys.[31]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Biography". Todd Carney Official Website. 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  2. ^ a b Rakiz, Josh (27 February 2011). "'I'm off the booze,' says shaken Carney". The Sun-Herald. Australia. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Carney pleads guilty". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2007. [dead link]
  4. ^ "Banned until 2012". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 June 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007. [dead link]
  5. ^ "NRL star given community service". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2007. [dead link]
  6. ^ Massoud, Josh (31 May 2007). "Carney spared, Irwin sacked". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
  7. ^ "Carney studies JT to improve game". Fox Sports News. Australia. AAP. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Todd Carney re-signs with Raiders". SBS TV. Australia. 14 March 2008.
  9. ^ Balym, Todd; Veness, Peter (25 July 2008). "Carney faces sack from NRL". Fox Sports News. Australia. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  10. ^ Jancetic, Steve (25 July 2008). "Carney scratched for Titans clash". Fox Sports News. Australia. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  11. ^ Ritchie, Dean (25 July 2008). "I'm ready to reveal names". Fox Sports News. Australia. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  12. ^ Kent, Paul (4 August 2008). "Say yes or miss next season". Fox Sports News. Australia.
  13. ^ "Raiders sack Carney". Fox Sports News. Australia.
  14. ^ "Carney shocked with outcome". Sportal. Australia. 7 Augist 2008. Retrieved 7 Augist 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Huddersfield abandon Carney deal". BBC Sport. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  16. ^ a b Fitzgerald, Peter (9 January 2009). "Unwanted man: NRL, Raiders rule out giving Carney lifeline". The Canberra Times. Australia. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  17. ^ Jean, David; Stockham, David (11 March 2009). "Carney run out of town". The Canberra Times. Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  18. ^ Laine Clark (6 March 2009). "Todd Carney released by Canberra Raiders to play for Atherton". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 6 March 2009.
  19. ^ "Carney bashed in Atherton". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  20. ^ Greenwood, Emma (13 February 2010). "Carney's Sydney Roosters crush Atherton". The Cairns Post. Australia. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  21. ^ Horne, Ben (22 June 2010). "Roosters keep Todd Carney in halves for vital Warriors clash". Fox Sports News. Australia. AAP. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  22. ^ /default.aspx?feed=videosearch&videotabid=71&videosubtabid=652&mid=114191 "Manly Sea Eagles vs Sydney Roosters". Retrieved 29 August 2010. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)[dead link]
  23. ^ "Todd Carney wins Dally M medal". Herald Sun. Australia. 8 September 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  24. ^ Ritchie, Dean (7 December 2010). "Todd Carney injured in balcony fall". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  25. ^ "Todd Carney kicks a love goal". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  26. ^ Read, Brent (19 April 2011). "Sydney Roosters stand down Todd Carney, Anthony Watts". The Australian. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  27. ^ Honeysett, Stuart (25 April 2011). "Sydney Roosters tell Todd Carney to stay away from Anzac Day match against St George Illawarra". Fox Sports News. Australia. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  28. ^ Read, Brent (9 August 2011). "Todd Carney's future rests with booze probe". The Australian. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  29. ^ Read, Brent (8 September 2011). "Todd Carney parts company with the Sydney Roosters". The Australian. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  30. ^ "Todd Carney released by Roosters". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  31. ^ "Carney released by Roosters". ABC News. Australia. AAP. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.

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