End To The Carney-age? | Thebigtip

Todd Carney: I’m just going to say it: FINALLY. He was a narrative full of promise and allure, that turned out to be a horror story.  I realise there are Todd Carney fans out there, I don’t mean to cause offense, I’m simply adding my two cents  to the pond of opinions that the global economy would be envious of.

2006 was Carney’s breakthrough year. He was branded with the foreboding tag of “the next big thing” and why wouldn’t he have been with the remarkable season he’d had: scoring twelve tries in just eighteen games, kicking numerous 40-20’s, three games had been won in extra time off of Carney’s boot and this had placed the Raiders in the top eight. All of this cemented his position in the NRL and also gained him a spot in the junior Kangaroos side – this time as captain.

But, the higher they climb that rickety ladder of success, the higher they have to fall it would seem.  In the December of ’06 Carney had his licence suspended for five years after being charged with drink driving and reckless driving. We all make mistakes, though, right...?

Before we knew it, the next NRL season was well and truly underway, with Todd incurring three man of the match awards from seven games. Although his Country origin jumper would have to go to someone else after (despite being suspended from driving), Carney led a “high-speed chase” through the backstreets of Canberra in team mate (and passenger) Steve Irwin’s ute. After fleeing the scene on foot, Todd heroically handed himself in to Police the next morning. Carney was charged with failing to stop when directed by police, negligent driving and driving while disqualified. He avoided gaol, but received 200 hours community service and a 12 month good behaviour bond. In Canberra, playing rugby league must be seen as a community service because Irwin, (owner of the ute Carney used) despite not being charged with any offences was sacked by the Raiders and Todd was kept onboard. The community service must’ve helped though: Carney was Raiders’ top try scorer of 2007.

Being such a community minded man was obviously an appealing attribute because at the start of 2008 Todd was being chased by clubs such as Manly and Penrith. Todd opted to stay with Canberra though. This time it wasn’t until July that the community slipped Todd’s mind. He had allegedly urinated on a patron at a Canberra nightclub, the patron had to undergo counselling to overcome the trauma of the incident. It was the Raiders’ turn to rain on Todd’s parade: this incident had resurfaced the 2007 mishap and Steve Irwin had remembered that Carney was intoxicated at the moment that cost him his contract with the Raiders but had received pressure from the club to remain quiet in order to avoid any gaol time Carney would be given. With that kind of guidance what could go wrong, right? Another comrade ‘decided’ to take the fall for Carney in Bronx Goodwin who on the same night was involved in a brawl which resulted in him being released from the club. After a magical five point plan was posed and disregarded by Carney the Raiders decided to terminate his $400,000 a year contract and the NRL de-registered him for a year.

The guidance from the Raiders and the NRL must’ve been having some sort of effect because just before the 2009 kick-off Todd went on an alcohol fuelled vandalising rampage in Golburn, jumping up and down on a car’s bonnet and then damaging the front of a Fone Zone store. Call for help maybe? Message received loud & clear, Todd. He received a 12 month suspended gaol sentence and was forced to undergo alcohol counselling. Todd was allowed to play for a local North Queensland side for the remainder of 2009, only to be assaulted by four men in May of that year.

2010 really seemed to be Todd’s time to rectify his past. The season-long ban had ended and The Roosters had snapped him up, under the wing of Brian Smith along with a few position changes,  Todd’s game was really looking up both on and off field. He showed confidence in the halves, being surrounded by guns like Pearce, Minichiello, and Shaun Kenny-Dowall allowed Carney’s productivity to flourish and as the new club kicker he had managed to score 200 points in the 2010 season. Todd was praised by receiving the Dally M medal, the Provan-Summons medal and he was also named International Player of the year. The only hiccup to have happened was when Carney fell from his home balcony after locking his keys inside and making an attempt at gaining entry. Everything looked on track for the young star.

The calm before the storm, you say? Well...yes. 2011. It only made its way into February before Carney lapsed.  He were to be charged with a low-range drink driving indiscretion.  The Roosters, much like the Raiders, stood by him. Just two months later, Carney was discovered to be out  drinking with team mate Anthony Watts. Watts was let go by the Roosters as he was allegedly involved in an altercation with his girlfriend while in the company of Todd Carney. Todd was “stood down indefinitely” but made a comeback for the round 10 clash against the Sharks. This brings us up to this month.  Todd, Nate Myles and Frank-Paul Nuuausala were all found drinking alcohol on Oxford Street after The Roosters put a ban on alcohol for, get this, an entire fortnight. It’s quite ironic that Nate Myles was out with Carney during this ban, in the April events Myles was a part of a leadership group that wanted Carney to be sacked for his intoxicated indiscretion. 

When problems as numerous as the ones that follow Todd are occurring, the finger of blame certainly gets a work-out. Who IS to blame?

·         The NRL for obviously being far too lenient and splashing an ocean’s worth of favouritism over Todd?

·         His clubs in the Raiders and Roosters for putting their respective success before the welfare of, not only a player, but a person?

·         The Media for hounding out a story instead of leaving Todd to at least try and recover?

·         Or you guys, the fans for putting the blame on everyone besides Todd. I read that people were blaming Michael Clarke for not trying hard enough with Carney. I mean, really?

There’s only one answer to this question: Todd. Carney. He is the problem, but he’s also the solution. His manager, David Riolo had admitted that although Todd is easily led, he’s a 25 year old man who needs to take responsibility.  And that’s exactly right. All through-out his career, he’s had someone else clean up the wreckage he’s carelessly left behind him. Due to this lack of authority Todd Carney, (I’d like to avoid absolutes, but...) obviously doesn’t have respect for the NRL, his team mates, the fans and most importantly; himself. Hopefully, for the sake of everyone, that this is the awakening for Todd. And hopefully the NRL, too. Maybe it’ll put people before profit. But I won’t hold my breath.