Todd Carney's first day at the Roosters

[melon....]

There's no doubting his effort or his commitment to the cause, but then again that could also be said about Brett Finch. .

Who's teh numb nuts now. You cant compare Anasta to Finch. One not only busts his gut and has some ability whilst the other is Brett Finch.

Brett Finch? **** off.

[melon....]

Which was the case with Anderson and Stuart before him. See a pattern? The players need to start taking some responsibility AS WELL.

Our management need to face up to their responsibilities and their errors. I think they have realised the hard way, via aspoon smashing their arses.

[supermario]

Carney ready to Seize the Day !

The Bondi rescue
Adrian Proszenko | November 1, 2009
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/t...e#contentSwap1

A ROOSTERS contract isn't the only thing Todd Carney inked during his sabbatical.

Carney was sporting a new tattoo on his right arm when he presented himself for induction at Bondi Junction last week.

Fittingly, the words ''carpe diem'' - seize the day - now adorn his toned forearm. But of more interest is the design that accompanies the Latin phrase.

''The koi fish and the dragon,'' Carney explained.

''I read about it on the internet a bit and got it designed when I was away.''

It's a fitting motif. According to Chinese legend: ''Any koi able to climb to the dragon gate along the yellow river will be transformed into a dragon.'' As such, the koi represents lofty goals and dreams, and the tattoo is also associated with lifelong good fortune.

Some would argue that Todd Carney received his share of good luck when the Roosters signed him. It appeared a strange move for a club out of control, an outfit plagued by bashings and benders - incidents that left a stain not only on the club but also the floor of a Terrigal Hotel corridor.

And how does the club react to all this? What action does management take to show this will no longer be tolerated? Who does it turn to as the next-big name recruit?

Todd Carney - a man with a rap sheet as long as his arm and the tattoos that adorn it.

However, Carney is adamant he will not add to the long list of Roosters atrocities.

''It's not that I'm a different person; I've just grown up,'' he said.

''It's my last chance, my last opportunity. It's all up to me.

''There's no warnings for me, no nothing.

''My name's never going to go back to perfect because of what's happened.

''I just want to thank the Roosters for bringing me here. They took a real big punt on me.

''I'm sure there's plenty of people out there wanting me to stuff up and betting that I'll stuff up.

''For me, I'm not out there to prove them wrong; I'm out to prove to myself and the club where I'm at.

''They've done the right thing by me and I'm going to do the right thing by them.''

Carney has had plenty of time to think about his indiscretions. It will be about 18 months between NRL matches if he's able to displace Mitchell Pearce or Braith Anasta in the halves in time for the first whistle of 2010.

The 23-year-old has spent his sabbatical playing bush footy for Atherton in far north Queensland and pulling beers at the local, the Barron Valley Hotel. He was a big name in a small town. The local girls flirted with him and some of the footballers wanted to fight him.

However, Carney managed, for the most part, to stay out of harm's way. There are fewer opportunities to find trouble when you're working 30 hours a week before you even get to training. Not that he has sworn off the demon drink altogether.

''Not as yet,'' he replied when quizzed about slapping a booze ban on himself.

''When something like that comes out [in the media] you can't even have a quiet beer. That would get written up in the papers.''

Carney's mother, Leanne, spent extended periods in Atherton to ensure he stayed out of trouble. She has since moved back to her home town of Goulburn. In her absence, her son will set up his new life in Maroubra, where he will flat with former Canberra teammate and fellow Roosters recruit Phil Graham.

Although he owns a property in Homebush - as well as another in Canberra - Carney has never lived in Sydney. Plonking a man with well-documented drinking problems in the heart of Sin City appears as hare-brained as putting a man with well-documented drinking problems behind a bar. However, the club and the player are confident history will not repeat itself.

''I don't want to put myself into that situation,'' Carney said. ''I've put some restrictions on myself, but that's just on my behalf. I'm willing to abide by anything [the Roosters] put in place.

''I don't have much to fall back on. It's my last chance and my last chance only.

''I'd lose a lot.''

The precociously talented half could rarely bring himself to watch an NRL game on television during his time in purgatory. That's what happens when you're mentioned as an Origin bolter one minute and playing bush footy the next. But at no stage did Carney think about tossing it all in.

''Obviously there have been times when I've doubted myself, if I could come back and be at the level I was at,'' he said.

''That's the big thing about the Roosters: they believe that I can.

''I've got to also believe in myself to do it.

''Now I'm back, we start training on Monday and I'll give it my best shot to do that.

''You still have doubts about it but there was never a time where I was going to pull the pin and call it quits.

''I'm only 23 and a lot of players don't make their debut until they're 23 or a bit older.

''I feel I've still got a bit to offer. It will take a bit of time but I'm up for the challenge.''

Carney is bracing for a backlash from Raiders supporters. But perhaps the more interesting reaction will be that of long-suffering Roosters fans. How will they respond when another big name with baggage enters the fold?

Carney has just one message for them.

''The only thing I can say to the supporters is give me a go, like the club has,'' he said. ''I'll do the right thing.''

Only time will tell. Whether he ever gets to ink a premiership tattoo to go with the koi and the dragon also remains to be seen. But for now there's only one thing on Carney's mind.

''Hopefully I can fit into the 17 somewhere,'' he said.

''If it was front row I'd take that because I just want to be back in the NRL.''

[elo]

Welcome to Maroubra Todd

[TheBigFella]

Well so far Todd has talked the talk... I hope for his sake & ours that he walks the walk...

GOOD LUCK TODD!!!

[Guest]

Why do I feel that this will inevitably end in tears......

[TheBigFella]

Why do I feel that this will inevitably end in tears......

I'm actually getting more confident by the day that this will be one of our best signings in quite a while..

[TheLoneRooster]

Why do I feel that this will inevitably end in tears......

Dolphin, one side of me feels this way and the other is quietly confident that Todd will be REAL GOOD for the Roosters.
Todd's situation reminds of that Eminem song "One Shot" (?).

GO TODD AND GO EASTS !!!

[witty92]

Dolphin, one side of me feels this way and the other is quietly confident that Todd will be REAL GOOD for the Roosters.
Todd's situation reminds of that Eminem song "One Shot" (?).

GO TODD AND GO EASTS !!!

do you mean the song 'Lose Yourself'? I was a 14 year old white upper-middle class private school boy at one stage...so i know about rap

[novice chook]

Can we at least provide him with a long sleeved jumper. Fark I hate those tatoos on his arms. There are some blokes that suit tats, he's definitely not one of them.

It could also have the added benefit that he'd sweat out a few kilos, he looks a little podgy after his NQ experience.


NC

[TheLoneRooster]

do you mean the song 'Lose Yourself'? I was a 14 year old white upper-middle class private school boy at one stage...so i know about rap

That's the one witty92, thanks for clarifying as I couldn't remember the name of that song and it bugged me a little.

I think he is in the right head space to take advantage of this opportunity.

[Guest]

Carney ready to Seize the Day !

God I hope he stays out of trouble in sydney !

I do believe what he says about changing and having a new start, I hope it sticks.
AND welcome to MAROUBRA BUDDIE.

GO THE CHOOKIES!

[supermario]