Carney’s price tag no drama

CLUB bosses insist the price tag of Todd Carney signing with the Northern Pride for next season is well within their means despite planning to go into 2018 without a naming rights sponsor.

Pride chairman Tony Williamson said he was confident in the sponsorship CEO Greg Dowling was able to attract to pave the way for the key signing and said the club had more to come.

“We put Greg and Ty on a pretty tight budget and they identified a need in the playing group they wanted filled, they went to the board and the board said if you can do it, do it,” he said.

“These guys didn’t like the fact the club didn’t make the semi-finals last year, so they had to come back to the board and say this is what we need to turn things around next year and we’ve backed them 100 per cent.

“We’re always talking to the business community in Cairns and throughout Queensland and we’re quite happy with the sponsorship level we’ve got for next season.

“As a result we couldn’t do the Todd Carney deal if we weren’t, but going forward if we have a better year on the field in 2018 than we did in 2017, of course it will be more attractive to sponsors.”

Dowling said Carney’s salary was “nowhere near” the $100,000 reported.

“I talk to the board about what I’m spending on players and that as well and we’re not going to break the bank and I will not do that while I’m here in the job,” he said.

Sea Swift has stepped away from the Pride after four years as naming rights sponsor.