Carney's Origin hopes plummet as Sharks hand him No.7 jersey
Michael Chammas
February 1, 2012
REVELATIONS that Todd Carney will start the year at No.7 for Cronulla may have ruined any chance he had at finally playing State of Origin this season.
Shane Flanagan's decision to play Carney at halfback could well prove a masterstroke for the Sharks, but it could also be detrimental to Carney's hopes of wearing the NSW jersey he's been tipped to fill since bursting on to the scene as a 19-year-old at Canberra.
Blues coach Ricky Stuart was reluctant to delve into what the positional switch would mean for the player once anointed as Darren Lockyer's heir apparent, but made it quite clear he was happy with the incumbent NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce.
"It's too early to talk about individuals, but I was more than happy with what Mitchell Pearce did for the team last year" ... Ricky Stuart. Photo: Graham Tidy
''It's too early in the season to start talking about individuals,'' Stuart said. ''But I was more than happy with what Mitchell Pearce did for the team last year.''
Stuart was hesitant to pick players out of position last year, making a few exceptions throughout the series because of injury.
But the Herald understands Pearce is favourite to hold on to the No.7 jersey - barring injury - leaving Carney to put forward his case for selection as a five-eighth, a position he wouldn't have played in since his last game for Sydney Roosters on August 7 last year.
Terry Campese, who joins Jamie Soward, Kurt Gidley, John Sutton and James Maloney as the players most likely to gain from Carney's appointment as Cronulla halfback, doesn't have such queries.
Campese played outside of Carney when the 25-year-old was still at the Raiders. He doesn't believe Carney will have any problems slotting back into the five-eighth role if his early season form for Cronulla warranted selection.
''He's played five-eighth in many games in the NRL and there's not too much difference these days. I'm not sure how the Sharks are going to play but I don't think it matters what number is on Toddy's back,'' Campese said. ''He's a quality player and he proved it when he was playing fullback at the Roosters. Whatever position he plays, he just has the ability to slot straight in.''
In his first interview since joining the Sharks, Carney - who has played 47 games at halfback and 45 games at five-eighth in his career so far - wasn't prepared to look past this Friday night's trial against premiers Manly at Toyota Stadium.
However, if he does manage to reproduce the kind of form that guided the Roosters to the grand final in 2010, Carney could make it impossible for Stuart to overlook him, and he'll have his likely NSW halves partner to thank for that.
''I learned a lot off Pearcey when I was playing at fullback [at the Roosters],'' Carney said. ''To follow him around the field, I learned a whole lot off him. I've taken a whole lot of his play here to the Sharks, so hopefully I can do it. Probably not quite as good as him, but I've definitely learnt a lot off him.''
While Carney and Wade Graham will be in the halves for Cronulla to start the season, injuries could force Carney back to second receiver at some point this year.
''Todd will play at seven if he plays with Wade,'' Flanagan said yesterday. ''If he plays with one of the other halves, like Chad [Townsend] or Jeff Robson, he'll play at six. Wade's more of a running five-eighth. He's not a conventional half back as such, he's a runner. We'll get him a little bit wider and let Todd control the ruck a little bit more.''
