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Carney labelled world's best
By Dean Ritchie
November 22, 2004
GREAT BRITAIN's Brian Carney has been declared the world's best winger after destroying the Kangaroos last week and being named the man of the match against New Zealand yesterday.
Former Australian five-eighth Matt Johns went even further by saying: "He's not just the best winger in the world - Brian's in the top five players in the world. He is a sensation."
Wigan's Carney scored two tries in Britain's 26-24 Tri-Nations victory over wooden spooners New Zealand in front of 23,000 frozen fans at Hull yesterday morning.
Britain topped the group after the round-robin series with six points and will play Australia (five points) in next weekend's sold-out final at Elland Road, Leeds.
Irish-born Carney is the player Australia must guard against after former Test prop Steve Roach said the British winger should be voted Tri-Nations' player of the series.
Carney has run for more than 100 metres in three of his four Tri-Nations games - the other being 95 metres against Australia. He ran for 231 metres against New Zealand yesterday.
Cronulla and Souths have already revealed plans to talk with Carney after his contract with Wigan expires at the end of next season.
Sharks coach Stuart Raper, who coached Carney for two-and-a-half years at Wigan, said the winger was the best in his position.
"As far as specialist wingers go, he'd probably be classed as the best," Raper said.
"Luke Rooney is doing particularly well but he's just come to the fore. Matt Sing is there and Anthony Minichiello is now regarded as a fullback.
"But he [Carney] is very close to being the best winger in the world.
"He is so powerful and strong. You tend to underestimate his strength.
"Brian has worked tirelessly at improving himself.
"He is a real crowd-pleaser."
Raper met Carney mid-year, when the player visited Australia while recovering from a broken ankle to see good friend Johns.
"Brian is keen to live and play in Australia," Raper said. "There will be a long list of clubs [chasing his services]." New Souths coach Shaun McRae lured Carney to English rugby league club Gateshead in 1999 and away from rugby union and Gaelic football.
Asked just how good Carney was, McRae said: "I don't know if he's the best but he has the potential to be."
McRae revealed how he signed Carney, who has also played with Hull.
"I was watching a tape with our CEO Shane Richardson of a match between the English students against the Irish students," he said.
"I said to Richo: 'This bloke has got something.'
"Brian is quick and strong. He has those natural resources.
"He's also intelligent and wants to be coached and wants to learn.
"He wouldn't be out of place on the end of any backline. Coaches know the damage he can do."
With Paul Sculthorpe and Jamie Peacock set to return for the final, Great Britain will head for Elland Road supremely optimistic after beating New Zealand.
Britain recovered from another low-key first-half performance to claim a third consecutive Test win for the first time in a decade.
The Daily Telegraph
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,11455538-23214,00.html
By Dean Ritchie
November 22, 2004
GREAT BRITAIN's Brian Carney has been declared the world's best winger after destroying the Kangaroos last week and being named the man of the match against New Zealand yesterday.
Former Australian five-eighth Matt Johns went even further by saying: "He's not just the best winger in the world - Brian's in the top five players in the world. He is a sensation."
Wigan's Carney scored two tries in Britain's 26-24 Tri-Nations victory over wooden spooners New Zealand in front of 23,000 frozen fans at Hull yesterday morning.
Britain topped the group after the round-robin series with six points and will play Australia (five points) in next weekend's sold-out final at Elland Road, Leeds.
Irish-born Carney is the player Australia must guard against after former Test prop Steve Roach said the British winger should be voted Tri-Nations' player of the series.
Carney has run for more than 100 metres in three of his four Tri-Nations games - the other being 95 metres against Australia. He ran for 231 metres against New Zealand yesterday.
Cronulla and Souths have already revealed plans to talk with Carney after his contract with Wigan expires at the end of next season.
Sharks coach Stuart Raper, who coached Carney for two-and-a-half years at Wigan, said the winger was the best in his position.
"As far as specialist wingers go, he'd probably be classed as the best," Raper said.
"Luke Rooney is doing particularly well but he's just come to the fore. Matt Sing is there and Anthony Minichiello is now regarded as a fullback.
"But he [Carney] is very close to being the best winger in the world.
"He is so powerful and strong. You tend to underestimate his strength.
"Brian has worked tirelessly at improving himself.
"He is a real crowd-pleaser."
Raper met Carney mid-year, when the player visited Australia while recovering from a broken ankle to see good friend Johns.
"Brian is keen to live and play in Australia," Raper said. "There will be a long list of clubs [chasing his services]." New Souths coach Shaun McRae lured Carney to English rugby league club Gateshead in 1999 and away from rugby union and Gaelic football.
Asked just how good Carney was, McRae said: "I don't know if he's the best but he has the potential to be."
McRae revealed how he signed Carney, who has also played with Hull.
"I was watching a tape with our CEO Shane Richardson of a match between the English students against the Irish students," he said.
"I said to Richo: 'This bloke has got something.'
"Brian is quick and strong. He has those natural resources.
"He's also intelligent and wants to be coached and wants to learn.
"He wouldn't be out of place on the end of any backline. Coaches know the damage he can do."
With Paul Sculthorpe and Jamie Peacock set to return for the final, Great Britain will head for Elland Road supremely optimistic after beating New Zealand.
Britain recovered from another low-key first-half performance to claim a third consecutive Test win for the first time in a decade.
The Daily Telegraph
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,11455538-23214,00.html
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