Todd Carney

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Todd Carney
fullname = Todd Carney
nickname = Todd Carnage

---

caption =
position = rlp|HB|FE
currentclub = Huddersfield Giants
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|6|2|df=yes
placeofbirth = Goulburn
countryofbirth = Australia
height = 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
weight = 90 kg (14 st 0 in)
club1 = leagueicon|Canberra Raiders|16 Canberra Raiders
year1start = 2004
year1end = 2008
appearances1 = 71
tries1 = 29
goals1 = 70
fieldgoals1 = 6
points1 = 262
club2 =
year2start =
year2end =
appearances2 =
tries2 =
goals2 =
fieldgoals2 =
points2 =
teamA = leagueicon|Country|16 Country Origin
yearAstart = 2008
yearAend =
appearancesA = 1
triesA = 1
goalsA = 1
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 6
updated = 21 July 2008
source = [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Todd_Carney.html Rugby League Project] and [http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Todd-Carney_990116.aspx Yesterday's Hero]

Todd Carney (born 2 June 1986 in Goulburn, New South Wales) is an Australian rugby league player formerly with the Canberra Raiders in the NRL competition and now with the Huddersfield Giants in England. His usual position is five-eighth or Stand-off, though he also plays halfback regularly. He has represented Australia at all junior levels and is also noted for his field goal kicking, being able to kick 50m out from goal. Carney has attracted headlines for off-field misdemeanours over his short career.

He will join the European Super League side Huddersfield Giants from the 2009 season.cite web|url=http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|title=2009 NRL Player Movements|publisher=NRL Live|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-04]

Career

Carney made his debut for the Raiders at the age of 17 after two years in Jersey Flegg (including a championship in 2003). After making a handful of appearances in 2004 he was named the club's rookie of the year. Canberra signed Jason Smith who helped shape his game. Despite only playing 11 games with a single try, Carney was rewarded with a starting position in the Junior Kangaroos annual fixture against Papua New Guinea, where he tallied a record 20 points.

2006 was Carney's breakthrough year where he cemented his position in first grade, scoring 12 tries in 18 games. His long range kicking became a feature of his game, forcing numerous 40-20s. Carney won three games in extra time off 40 metre drop goals as Canberra finished in the Top 8. He was again selected in the Junior Kangaroos squad, but this time as captain.

After being thrust into the position of five-eighth in 2007, Carney earned three "Man of the Match" awards from seven games. However his City-Country selection chances were laid to rest when he got into hot water over a high speed pursuit incident. Carney began modelling his game on Jonathan Thurston before the 2008 season in a bid to play representative football. [ [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23156172-23214,00.html Carney studies JT to improve game] ] Carney's 2008 pre-season was eventful as he became the subject of a three way battle between Canberra, Manly and Penrith. Eventually he re-signed with the Raiders until 2010 with an option for 2 further years. [ [http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/todd_carney_resigns_with_raiders_542789 Todd Carney re-signs with Raiders] SBS, Friday, 14 March, 2008 ]

Half way through the 2008 NRL season, Todd Carney was voted the best player in the NRL through an online poll run by the Daily Telegraph, receiving over 4000 votes (more than 25% of total votes cast).

Controversy

2006

Carney was charged with drink driving and reckless driving after an incident in Ballanya Avenue, Goulburn, on 16 December, 2006, and had his license suspended for five years.

2007

Just before 6pm on 18 May, 2007, Carney re-offended. Despite being disqualified from driving, Carney drove a ute belonging to teammate Steve Irwin. Police began to pursue the vehicle after noticing the wheels of the ute momentarily lose traction as it went around a corner. Despite the police car having its sirens sounding and lights flashing, Carney refused to stop his speeding vehicle, leading police on a high-speed chase through the back streets of the Canberra suburb of Bruce. After turning into a dead-end street, Carney stopped the car and fled the scene on foot, leaving his mate Steve Irwin in the passenger seat. Irwin told police Carney was the driver. Police went to Carney's house, but he was not there. The next morning, Carney turned himself in.

On Tuesday, 12 June 2007, Carney appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court, pleading guilty to the charges of failing to stop when directed by police, negligent driving and driving while disqualified.cite news
url = http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/carney-pleads-guilty/2007/06/12/1181414264172.html
title = Carney pleads guilty
publisher = Sydney Morning Herald
date=2007-06-12
accessdate = 2007-06-14 ] He escaped jail, but the Court placed Carney on a 12-month good behaviour order, banned him from driving until 2012,cite news
url = http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/raiders/banned-until-2012/2007/06/13/1181414347961.html
title = Banned until 2012
publisher = Sydney Morning Herald
date=2007-06-13
accessdate = 2007-06-13 ] and sentenced him to 200 hours of community service.cite news
url = http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21893246-421,00.html
title = NRL star given community service
publisher = The Daily Telegraph
date=2007-06-12
accessdate = 2007-06-14 ] The Magistrate warned Carney that if he commits another offence he would "undoubtedly go to jail." Controversially, the Raiders club sacked Irwin (who was not charged with any offences) over the incident but retained Carney.cite news
url = http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,,21823673-5006066,00.html
title = Carney spared, Irwin sacked
publisher = The Daily Telgraph
date=2007-05-31
accessdate = 2007-06-14 ]

2008

On 20 July, 2008, it was alleged Carney urinated on a man at a Canberra nightclub. [cite news|author=Todd Balym and Peter Veness|publisher="Fox Sports News (Australia)"|title=Carney faces sack from NRL |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24059918-23214,00.html |accessdate=2008-07-22|date=2008-07-25] Carney was suspended from participating in league matches and training while the allegations were investigated. The complaint was withdrawn two days later but Carney remained suspended for the round 21 match against the Gold Coast Titans. [cite news|author=Steve Jancetic|publisher="Fox Sports News (Australia)"|title=Carney scratched for Titans clash |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24065296-23214,00.html |accessdate=2008-07-23|date=2008-07-25]

The nightclub allegations sparked renewed interest in Carney's 2007 negligent driving charges when Steve Irwin claimed that Carney was intoxicated whilst driving at the time of the 2007 incident but he had been pressured by the club to remain quiet in an attempt to avoid a jail sentence for Carney. [cite news|author=Dean Ritchie|publisher="Fox Sports News (Australia)"|title=I'm ready to reveal names |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24075189-23214,00.html |accessdate=2008-07-25|date=2008-07-25]

The above incident led to Canberra imposing an ultimatum on Carney whereby he must follow a five point plan:
*stand down from training and matches for the rest of the season;
*go on an alcohol ban until the end of 2012;
*undergo counselling;
*complete a community service program; and
*and pay a $20,000 fine.

The NRL threatened to de-register his contract for 2 years if Carney didn't accept this plan in order to protect the Raiders from losing him to another club. [ [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24123646-23214,00.html Say yes or miss next season] By Paul KentAugust 04, 2008 ]

Carney asked for a variation of the plan where he could avoid points one and two. This was unacceptable to the club board. On the 7th of August, 2008, the Canberra club sacked Carney and terminated his $400,000 a season contract. Carney has been de-registered by the NRL and will not be eligible to compete in the competition until 2010. [ [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24142559-23214,00.html Raiders sack Carney] FOX Sports] cite web|url=http://sportal.com.au/league-news-display/carney-shocked-with-outcome-54035|title=Carney shocked with outcome|publisher=Sportal|date=2008-08-07|accessdate=2008-08-07]

He followed Nathan Brown to Huddersfield on a one year deal. [ [http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/brown-lures-carney-to-uk/2008/09/03/1220121290504.html Brown lures Carney to UK] ]

References

External links

* [http://raiders.com.au/2008/hq/profiles/carney_todd.php Canberra Raiders profile]
* [http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Raiders/RaidersPlayerProfile/tabid/194/playerid/339/Default.aspx NRL profile]

ee also

*List of Rugby league incidents