Sharks coach to rule on Todd Carney
THE fate of Todd Carney rests in the hands of Shane Flanagan as the Cronulla coach has been authorised by the Sharks board to decide whether the troubled five-eighth has a future at the club.
Carney has been without a home in the NRL since being cut adrift by the Sydney Roosters late last season following a string of alcohol related offences, including a drink-driving charge and defying a team edict to abstain from drinking. The Gold Coast has already made an offer for his services but he has always been linked to a move to Cronulla as the club needs a quality player alongside captain Paul Gallen.
Flanagan first flagged an interest in Carney in The Australian as far back as August, but admitted he would have to convince the board first before any offer could be made, given the former Dally M winner's troubled history.
Carney returned yesterday from an overseas holiday to Thailand and it is believed Flanagan will meet with the five-eighth soon to decide on his future.
The Titans are not the only club to have been linked to Carney. North Queensland, Canterbury and South Sydney have been mentioned.
"I appreciate he's a talented player but again I need to sit back and make sure it's the right decision for the club and the team," Flanagan said.
"I want to hear what he has to say. I need to sit down and have a chat with him. There's a bit of water to pass under the bridge yet.
"He only gets back from overseas today. I've spoken to his manager, David Riolo, and David is going to touch base with him today or tomorrow. No decision has been made yet. The thing I've learned with all these types of things is you don't rush into it."
Sharks chairman Damian Irvine is believed to have gone as far as to meet Carney's mother, Leanne, to discuss whether the Sharks should take a gamble on her son, given he has already been sacked by Canberra and the Roosters for behavioural problems.
After being sacked by the Raiders at the end of 2008 and deregistered by the NRL, Carney was thrown a lifeline by the Roosters. An alcohol ban last year resulted in him being crowned the game's best player after steering the club to a grand final.
However, he failed to show the same resolve this season and fell out of favour at Bondi Junction after he began drinking again
and accumulated a string of misdemeanours.
The NRL has always maintained that it would scrutinise any deal Carney signed with another club to ensure he did not bring the game into disrepute again.
The Sharks have a number of halves in Wade Graham, Albert Kelly and Scott Porter but Carney would be a walk-up start and could ultimately prove to be the difference to a team that is competitive but has lacked a killer-punch.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...e-on-todd-carney/story-e6frg7mf-1226164306430
