WITH his NRL career hanging by a thread, Dally M Medallist Todd Carney is poised to make a surprise defection to France in a bid to escape the Sydney spotlight. The Sunday Telegraph has been told the Sydney Roosters are in negotiations with French-based UK Super League club Les Catalans for Carney to play there next season.
The move is viewed by Roosters powerbrokers as a way for Carney to get rehabilitated away from the glare of Sydney's eastern suburbs.
It is understood powerful Roosters chairman Nick Politis has spoken to Les Catalans coach and former Roosters assistant Trent Robinson about helping Carney get his life back on track in the south of France.
If the stint was a success, then Carney could return to the Roosters in 2013.
Carney enjoys a close bond with Robinson, who was one of the Roosters' assistants during last year's grand final charge.
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Sydney Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce said he was unaware of any move for Carney to head to France, but The Sunday Telegraph has had the plan confirmed by people within the club's inner-circle.
Carney's agent David Riolo has extensive contacts in French rugby league and union and facilitated the move for Karmichael Hunt to play the 15-a-side code with Biarritz last year.
Les Catalans coach Robinson is working out how to accommodate Carney into the roster as an imported player.
The Roosters will refrain from sacking Carney and instead present this option an alternative path to deal with his issues.
What is certain is that he won't be playing for the Tricolours next season. Roosters coach Brian Smith and senior players Braith Anasta and Anthony Minichiello are understood to have lost faith in Carney after his latest broken promise about abstaining from alcohol.
They are still fuming about the situation, making the French defection even more appealing.
The Sydney Roosters five-eighth and Queensland Origin forward Nate Myles remain stood down from training and playing for the Roosters after being served with a breach notice by the club. They are expected to front the board to explain themselves this week.
Noyce confirmed both Carney and Myles have the option of fronting the Roosters board to attempt to explain why they chose to break a team-enforced alcohol ban 13 days ago.
Myles, who was spotted having dinner in Randwick last night while the Roosters were beating the Sharks up the road at the SFS, has played his last game for the foundation club. He will join Gold Coast next season.
Carney is believed to be warming to the idea of moving to Perpignan. A similar escape to French rugby helped Penrith captain Craig Gower when he moved to play rugby for Bayonne in 2007.
Away from the spectre of the NRL and Sydney, Carney may be able to find solace.
Catalans coach Robinson remains in contact with Carney and a number of other Bondi Junction-based players.