Setbacks? Todd Carney has had a few. But the playmaker believes the torment of 2013 has only reinforced his desire to become one Cronulla's best ever players.
From his State of Origin demotion to missing Cronulla's finals loss to Manly, Carney's despair continued when he watched on as his former teammates tasted premiership success at the Roosters.
Carney was part of the Roosters' 2010 premiership loss to St George Illawarra but moved to the Sharks in 2012 after being sacked. With all this in mind, Carney said his topsy-turvy last year had fuelled his desire.
"I'm more driven," Carney said. "I've seen what the Roosters did. That whole playing group are my mates and I gathered what they felt. I have signed at Cronulla for five years and I want to win a competition for the club. I want to be one of the best players that have played for the club and that's what I do train for every day.
"It burns and it hurt [watching the Roosters win the competition]. But they are my close mates and I couldn't be happier for them. You can never be filthy on mates winning a grand final and I watched in the background the experience they went through.
"Hopefully this group [at Cronulla] can be part of it. I have seen the hard work the Roosters put in and they are still doing it ."
While skipper Paul Gallen has been Cronulla's driving force in recent years, Carney has usurped his teammate as the most important player at the club. Injuries at crucial times have cruelled Carney. A hamstring strain ruled him out of Cronulla's finals loss to Manly last year while a torn Achilles ended his 2012 when Canberra bundled the Sharks out of the competition.
"It burns me every time semi-final football is brought up," Carney said of his injuries. "There's a lot of what-ifs. I will prepare a lot better this year and I will prepare differently leading into the finals if we are there. It burns me and it's a driving force with the way I train and the way I play."
After featuring in three games for NSW in 2012, Carney was dumped for James Maloney for the Origin arena last year. The snub hurt Carney who is eyeing a return to the Blues.
"The short-term goal is to start the first five games well," Carney said. "The long-term goal is definitely Origin. I'm going to work hard to get back there. When you don't get picked in a team you blame yourself and you blame your form. Hopefully I'm playing good around that time of year."
Far from easing into the start of the season, Carney starred in a promising 30-minute stint against Manly in Cronulla's trial win on Friday night. His kicking game was spot on while a select pass to teammate Wade Graham helped the back-rower to a try.
"There were a few times in the game where I got the exact same play and we didn't score but I created a one-on-one for the player," Carney said. "When things you practise all pre-season happen in a game it is always pleasing. For a first hit-out I was quite happy with where I'm at and where the team is at."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-motivation-20140212-32hc4.html#ixzz2t4USvlg9
From his State of Origin demotion to missing Cronulla's finals loss to Manly, Carney's despair continued when he watched on as his former teammates tasted premiership success at the Roosters.
Carney was part of the Roosters' 2010 premiership loss to St George Illawarra but moved to the Sharks in 2012 after being sacked. With all this in mind, Carney said his topsy-turvy last year had fuelled his desire.
"I'm more driven," Carney said. "I've seen what the Roosters did. That whole playing group are my mates and I gathered what they felt. I have signed at Cronulla for five years and I want to win a competition for the club. I want to be one of the best players that have played for the club and that's what I do train for every day.
"It burns and it hurt [watching the Roosters win the competition]. But they are my close mates and I couldn't be happier for them. You can never be filthy on mates winning a grand final and I watched in the background the experience they went through.
"Hopefully this group [at Cronulla] can be part of it. I have seen the hard work the Roosters put in and they are still doing it ."
While skipper Paul Gallen has been Cronulla's driving force in recent years, Carney has usurped his teammate as the most important player at the club. Injuries at crucial times have cruelled Carney. A hamstring strain ruled him out of Cronulla's finals loss to Manly last year while a torn Achilles ended his 2012 when Canberra bundled the Sharks out of the competition.
"It burns me every time semi-final football is brought up," Carney said of his injuries. "There's a lot of what-ifs. I will prepare a lot better this year and I will prepare differently leading into the finals if we are there. It burns me and it's a driving force with the way I train and the way I play."
After featuring in three games for NSW in 2012, Carney was dumped for James Maloney for the Origin arena last year. The snub hurt Carney who is eyeing a return to the Blues.
"The short-term goal is to start the first five games well," Carney said. "The long-term goal is definitely Origin. I'm going to work hard to get back there. When you don't get picked in a team you blame yourself and you blame your form. Hopefully I'm playing good around that time of year."
Far from easing into the start of the season, Carney starred in a promising 30-minute stint against Manly in Cronulla's trial win on Friday night. His kicking game was spot on while a select pass to teammate Wade Graham helped the back-rower to a try.
"There were a few times in the game where I got the exact same play and we didn't score but I created a one-on-one for the player," Carney said. "When things you practise all pre-season happen in a game it is always pleasing. For a first hit-out I was quite happy with where I'm at and where the team is at."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-motivation-20140212-32hc4.html#ixzz2t4USvlg9
