Todd Carney
Todd Carney, also known by the nickname of "Toddy", is an Australian former professional rugby league player who played in the 2000s and 2010s.
He played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Sydney Roosters, and the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League ; and for Hull Kingston Rovers, Salford Red Devils, and the Catalans Dragons teams in the Super League. He debuted in the NRL from the bench, before starting at. He predominately played as a during his career, and had a brief stint as a in 2010.
On November 31, 2024 it was reported that Carney landed a coaching job within the NRL Gold Coast Titans.
Background
Carney was born in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia.Playing career
Early career
Carney played his junior rugby league for the Goulburn Stockmen, before being recruited to the Canberra Raiders' junior academy at the age of just twelve. Playing in the S.G. Ball Cup, Carney's team won the premiership in 2003.Senior career
Canberra Raiders (2004–2009)
Carney made his National Rugby League Premiership début during the 2004 NRL season at the age of 17. After a handful of appearances, he was named the Canberra Raiders' Rookie of the Year.Canberra Raiders had signed Jason Smith and Sam Peez, who in 2005, helped shape Carney's game.
Despite only playing 11 games and scoring 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.
2006 was Carney's breakthrough year, where he cemented his position in the first-grade team, scoring 12 tries in 18 games.
Alongside Adam Mogg, he was the Raiders' leading try-scorer for 2006. His long-range kicking game also became a feature of his play, going onto record numerous 40-20's.
Carney won three games in extra-time off 40-metre drop-goals, as Canberra finished in the top 8 of the National Rugby League competition ladder. He was again selected in the Junior Kangaroos' squad, where he was appointed as captain.
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.
On 12 June 2007, Carney appeared at the ACT Magistrates Court. Carney pleaded guilty to the charges of failing to stop when directed by police, negligent driving and driving while disqualified.
He was spared jail, but the Court placed Carney on a 12-month good behaviour order and banned him from driving until 2012. He was also sentenced to 200 hours of community service.
The Magistrate warned Carney that if he were to commit another offence he would, "undoubtedly go to jail".
Controversially the Canberra Raiders club sacked Steve Irwin, but retained Carney.
Carney was the Raiders' top try-scorer for the 2007 NRL season.
Before the 2008 NRL season, Carney began modelling his game on Johnathan Thurston, in a bid to play representative football. He was also being personally coached by his life and childhood hero, Laurie Daley.
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.
Though off-field misbehaviour continued to plague Carney's playing career and on 20 July 2008, it was "alleged" that he had urinated on a man in a Canberra nightclub, the man had to undertake counseling to overcome the trauma of the incident.
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.
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 Irwin had been pressured by the club to remain quiet, in an attempt to avoid a jail sentence for Carney.
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.
- To go on an alcohol ban until the end of 2012.
- Undergo counselling.
- Complete a community service programme.
- To also pay a $20,000 fine.
Carney asked for a variation of the plan where he could avoid points one and two.
This was unacceptable to the club's board and 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 he would not be eligible to compete in the competition until 2010.
Carney attempted to follow ex-Dragon's coach Nathan Brown to the Huddersfield Giants on a one-year deal, but was unable to obtain a Visa in late 2008, due to his previous drink driving offences.
Carney applied to the NRL in an effort to play for an Australian club in the 2009 NRL season, but the NRL stated that, "they would not accept registration of a contract for Todd Carney for that season".
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 he was also ordered to undertake alcohol counselling.
In March 2009, the Canberra Raiders agreed to release Carney to play for the Atherton Roosters in the Cairns competition in Far North Queensland.
Carney was assaulted by four-men in Atherton on 10 May 2009, with one of those men former Cowboys, Broncos and current London Broncos' player, Nick Slyney.
Sydney Roosters (2010–2011)
After his season-long ban from the NRL expired, Carney joined the Sydney Roosters for the 2010 NRL season.In preparation for his comeback season, Carney bought a punching bag to exercise with.
He played his first game for the club against his old team the Atherton Roosters, in a pre-season trial in Atherton. After playing a lot of his football at Canberra as a, he was shifted to by Roosters' coach, Brian Smith. After his début against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a 36-10 victory, Carney was kept at, only shifting back into the position to cover for Mitchell Pearce. In round 14 against the Melbourne Storm he was permanently switched into the halves, displacing captain Braith Anasta to.
His return to the halves was very successful, with the Roosters undertaking a five-game winning streak soon after the move. Carney as formed an incisive attacking combination with Mitchell Pearce. He was also a facilitator to his outside backs with Anthony Minichiello and Shaun Kenny-Dowall in particular showing increased productivity. In addition, he had taken on the goal kicking duties for the Roosters scoring over 200 points.
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. Carney also won the Dally M 'Five-Eight of the Year' and the Provan-Summons Medal Award. He played at Five-Eighth for the Roosters in their 2010 NRL Grand Final loss to the St. George IIIawarra Dragons.
He also received the Rugby League International Federation's 'International Player of the Year Award' for 2010.
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.
Carney dated Seven Network television presenter, Liz Cantor. Their relationship didn't last very long and they soon went their separate ways.
At the end of his 2011 NRL season, he had played a total of 118 games, 115 at club level and 3 at representative level.
On 26 February 2011, it was reported that Carney would 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 the Sydney Roosters indefinitely. He was subsequently required to receive treatment for his behavioural issues.
Carney returned to the NRL in a round 10 clash against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Toyota Park.
In early August 2011, Carney, together with Nate Myles and Frank-Paul Nuuausala, broke a team agreement to not touch alcohol for two-weeks. All three players were subject to disciplinary hearings.
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 Carney's management.
Denied a visa to gain access into the United Kingdom due to his criminal convictions, Carney's management were reportedly considering a contract with French-based Super League team, the Catalans Dragons.
By mid-October 2011, there was further media speculation that Carney would be signed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks or the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
On 26 October 2011, it was announced that Carney had accepted a two-year contract with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, estimated to be worth $700,000.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (2012–2014)
Carney's first year at Cronulla was very good, as he helped the side into the finals. However, they were defeated by the Raiders in the Qualifying Finals.He was also selected to represent New South Wales in the annual State of Origin series playing at the position.
Carney spent the off-season recovering from an achilles tendon tear, but despite an offer from the New Zealand Warriors in January 2013, Carney signed-up with the Sharks for an additional five-years from 2013.
Carney for the second time in his career, he won the Dally M 'Five-Eighth of the Year' Award in the 2013 NRL season.
On 29 June 2014, Carney was sacked by the Sharks, due to a photograph leaked on social media in which he appears to urinate into his own mouth.
As he was on his last warning for behavioural issues, the NRL's Chief Operating Officer Jim Doyle, said, "I would be surprised if any club would show interest in signing him. Considering his chequered history and even if they did it was 'unlikely' the NRL would agree to register him".
On 18 January 2019, Carney appeared on the NRL podcast titled "Bloke in a bar". Carney was asked by host Denan Kemp about the incident which saw his contract terminated by Cronulla. Carney said that his "Bubbler" act had been performed by another teammate Bryce Gibbs. Carney claimed the "Bubbler" became part of celebrations after each win.
Carney also claimed that former Cronulla boss Steve Noyce was among the club officials to witness Gibbs do the '"Bubbler" and says he did not balk at it before the publicly circulated photo of Carney stole headlines and ultimately led to his exile from the NRL. Carney stated that Noyce only made an issue of the act because of the photograph becoming public.