Tweet
From the SMH
"TODD CARNEY'S old boss at Canberra, John McIntyre, says the Sydney Roosters star has the potential to captain Australia if he can overcome his problem with alcohol.
''I would urge Todd to see the right people and get the right advice,'' the Raiders chairman said yesterday.
''He needs professional help. I would hate to see him ruin his career because of his problem with alcohol.
Advertisement: Story continues below
''He can captain the green and gold one day if he wants to. There's no doubt he's good enough to do that, if he stays out of trouble.''
The current Australian captain, Darren Lockyer, who turns 34 next month, is in the twilight of his representative career, and Carney is the favourite to eventually fill his position at five-eighth.
McIntyre said being involved in the board decision to sack Carney for repeated alcohol-related indiscretions in 2008 was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do.
He said all he wanted for the one-time Raiders junior was to see him fulfil his potential. ''He's one of the best local juniors we've produced since the likes of Bradley Clyde and Ricky Stuart and others in that great Canberra team that emerged in the late 1980s,'' McIntyre said.
''The door will always be open for him to come back and play here if living in Sydney ever gets too much for him. But he's a Roosters player now, and I wish him and the club all the best in dealing with this issue because I'm a league lover.''
Roosters captain Braith Anasta, speaking at the club's fan day yesterday, said the main concern for his players at this stage was to ensure Carney was OK.
''We're all mates and the first thing is to make sure Todd's in a good state of mind,'' Anasta said. ''We're just going to support him and make sure that this doesn't happen again.
''I think he should do everything possible and everything the club wants him to do. It's up to the club and him to sort that out, and if it's in the best interests of him and his lifestyle and his health, then he should do whatever's possible.
''But that's not up to the players - it's up to the club to sort it out with him. We're going to support him as players and his mate.
''He's a great guy - he just can't afford to slip up.
''He's an ambassador for the game and the club, and he's got to do everything possible to be a leader as well and be a great example for everyone. At the end of the day he's got to look after himself and make sure he's got himself in the right order.''
Carney also received support from his peers. Wests Tigers winger Lote Tuqiri said Carney would have the support of any player who knew him well.
''From all reports, he thought he was OK,'' said Tuqiri, a teammate of Carney's in last year's Four Nations.
''I don't think he would have got into a car if he thought he was over the limit. It obviously happens. Different things happen with different body types.
''The players certainly support him in what he's doing. It's good for the Roosters to stand by him because he's an amazing footballer. You saw that last year on the field.
''It's just a little hiccup. He obviously shouldn't have been driving but he thought it was out of his system.
''That's not condoning what he did. But all the boys who do know him support him getting through the year.''
Carney's manager, David Riolo, said it was up to Carney to ensure it was no more than a hiccup.
''His actions will speak louder than any words now,'' Riolo said."
"TODD CARNEY'S old boss at Canberra, John McIntyre, says the Sydney Roosters star has the potential to captain Australia if he can overcome his problem with alcohol.
''I would urge Todd to see the right people and get the right advice,'' the Raiders chairman said yesterday.
''He needs professional help. I would hate to see him ruin his career because of his problem with alcohol.
Advertisement: Story continues below
''He can captain the green and gold one day if he wants to. There's no doubt he's good enough to do that, if he stays out of trouble.''
The current Australian captain, Darren Lockyer, who turns 34 next month, is in the twilight of his representative career, and Carney is the favourite to eventually fill his position at five-eighth.
McIntyre said being involved in the board decision to sack Carney for repeated alcohol-related indiscretions in 2008 was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do.
He said all he wanted for the one-time Raiders junior was to see him fulfil his potential. ''He's one of the best local juniors we've produced since the likes of Bradley Clyde and Ricky Stuart and others in that great Canberra team that emerged in the late 1980s,'' McIntyre said.
''The door will always be open for him to come back and play here if living in Sydney ever gets too much for him. But he's a Roosters player now, and I wish him and the club all the best in dealing with this issue because I'm a league lover.''
Roosters captain Braith Anasta, speaking at the club's fan day yesterday, said the main concern for his players at this stage was to ensure Carney was OK.
''We're all mates and the first thing is to make sure Todd's in a good state of mind,'' Anasta said. ''We're just going to support him and make sure that this doesn't happen again.
''I think he should do everything possible and everything the club wants him to do. It's up to the club and him to sort that out, and if it's in the best interests of him and his lifestyle and his health, then he should do whatever's possible.
''But that's not up to the players - it's up to the club to sort it out with him. We're going to support him as players and his mate.
''He's a great guy - he just can't afford to slip up.
''He's an ambassador for the game and the club, and he's got to do everything possible to be a leader as well and be a great example for everyone. At the end of the day he's got to look after himself and make sure he's got himself in the right order.''
Carney also received support from his peers. Wests Tigers winger Lote Tuqiri said Carney would have the support of any player who knew him well.
''From all reports, he thought he was OK,'' said Tuqiri, a teammate of Carney's in last year's Four Nations.
''I don't think he would have got into a car if he thought he was over the limit. It obviously happens. Different things happen with different body types.
''The players certainly support him in what he's doing. It's good for the Roosters to stand by him because he's an amazing footballer. You saw that last year on the field.
''It's just a little hiccup. He obviously shouldn't have been driving but he thought it was out of his system.
''That's not condoning what he did. But all the boys who do know him support him getting through the year.''
Carney's manager, David Riolo, said it was up to Carney to ensure it was no more than a hiccup.
''His actions will speak louder than any words now,'' Riolo said."
Comment