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Losing Carney would be painful
By Steve Jancetic
March 09, 2008http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23345253-23214,00.html
CANBERRA skipper Alan Tongue says Todd Carney leaving the nation's capital would be a "kick in the teeth" for the club which nurtured him into the NRL spotlight.
Star halfback Carney is at the centre of a four-club battle for his services for 2009 and beyond with the Raiders, Manly and Penrith having all put four-year deals on the table worth in excess of $1.6 million to lure him away.
He could be followed out of Canberra by exciting fullback William Zillman, who has an option in his contract for the 2009 season.
The departure of the key duo would rob the Raiders of two of their brightest talents, something the club can ill-afford.
The club's worked so hard to bring these juniors through, said Tongue, who last November agreed to remain at the club until 2010.
We have struggled to attract high-profile players so they have concentrated on their juniors. Seeing them go by the wayside would be a real kick in the teeth I suppose.
While losing Zillman, who was in scintillating form last year before a knee injury curtailed an impressive second campaign, would be a blow, Carney's departure would be devastating.
The 21-year-old playmaker has representative football written all over him, and if not for a run-in with the law last season, may have already snared a New South Wales Origin jumper.
His retention would not only boost the Raiders' current on-field fortunes, but would also provide them with a handy fillip when it came to attracting players to the club.
He is obviously the club's No.1 priority to get re-signed and it would definitely help the club down the track if he was there to help sign other players, Tongue said.
He's an important part of our team, there's no doubt about that, he's such a quality player and he leads on the field. He's a very dominant player and talker on the field and organises our team. He's a vital part to the success of our team and I know they're trying to do their best to keep him on board.
The club's put a lot of time and effort into him, the boys enjoy playing with him and enjoy having him around the club, so fingers crossed.
While the Raiders sent club great Mal Meninga to have talks with Carney in a bid to convince him to stay, Tongue said he would not be putting the hard word on his teammate.
He's probably got enough on his plate at the moment and enough people saying enough things in his ear every second minute, Tongue said.
Toddy's smart enough. He's got to make the right decision for himself.
Carney said he was hoping to make a call on his future before Friday night's season kick-off, with his manager David Riolo intimating that a decision was unlikely until later in the week.
AAP
By Steve Jancetic
March 09, 2008http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23345253-23214,00.html
CANBERRA skipper Alan Tongue says Todd Carney leaving the nation's capital would be a "kick in the teeth" for the club which nurtured him into the NRL spotlight.
Star halfback Carney is at the centre of a four-club battle for his services for 2009 and beyond with the Raiders, Manly and Penrith having all put four-year deals on the table worth in excess of $1.6 million to lure him away.
He could be followed out of Canberra by exciting fullback William Zillman, who has an option in his contract for the 2009 season.
The departure of the key duo would rob the Raiders of two of their brightest talents, something the club can ill-afford.
The club's worked so hard to bring these juniors through, said Tongue, who last November agreed to remain at the club until 2010.
We have struggled to attract high-profile players so they have concentrated on their juniors. Seeing them go by the wayside would be a real kick in the teeth I suppose.
While losing Zillman, who was in scintillating form last year before a knee injury curtailed an impressive second campaign, would be a blow, Carney's departure would be devastating.
The 21-year-old playmaker has representative football written all over him, and if not for a run-in with the law last season, may have already snared a New South Wales Origin jumper.
His retention would not only boost the Raiders' current on-field fortunes, but would also provide them with a handy fillip when it came to attracting players to the club.
He is obviously the club's No.1 priority to get re-signed and it would definitely help the club down the track if he was there to help sign other players, Tongue said.
He's an important part of our team, there's no doubt about that, he's such a quality player and he leads on the field. He's a very dominant player and talker on the field and organises our team. He's a vital part to the success of our team and I know they're trying to do their best to keep him on board.
The club's put a lot of time and effort into him, the boys enjoy playing with him and enjoy having him around the club, so fingers crossed.
While the Raiders sent club great Mal Meninga to have talks with Carney in a bid to convince him to stay, Tongue said he would not be putting the hard word on his teammate.
He's probably got enough on his plate at the moment and enough people saying enough things in his ear every second minute, Tongue said.
Toddy's smart enough. He's got to make the right decision for himself.
Carney said he was hoping to make a call on his future before Friday night's season kick-off, with his manager David Riolo intimating that a decision was unlikely until later in the week.
AAP
