HERE’S CARNEY
The biggest recruit in Northern Pride history touches down in Cairns
through an induction with team officials last night and is expected to start training with the QRL club this week.
Williamson said securing Carney’s signature was a historic moment for the two-time premiership club, which finished third-last in 2017.
“We’re really excited to have a former Australian representative player in our team next season and we think he’ll do good things for the Pride,” he said.
Carney last played rugby league in Australia in 2014 for the Cronulla Sharks before he was sacked in relation to a now infamous off-field incident.
The talented playmaker has spent the past three seasons playing in the English Super League for Catalans Dragons and Salford Red Devils before recently returning to Australia.
Carney’s manager David Riolo said that despite fielding lucrative offers from a number of clubs, innegotiation cluding Hull KR, the Pride’s three-year deal gave him the opportunity to potentially coach in the future.
“It’s a great opportunity with a good club and a chance to get involved with rugby league development,” Riolo said.
“Todd’s got to start thinking about life after football and he knows that. With the Pride it’s a really professional club.
“(CEO) Greg Dowling was really good to deal with (during the process). Todd’s not sure if he’ll go down that coaching pathway but we want to see what transpires.
“He knows his footy but he’s not worried about any of that just yet.”
Carney previously played for the Atherton Roosters in the Cairns District Rugby League competition after being deregistered by the NRL for the 2009 season.
“It didn’t hurt that he knew the area and loved it up there,” Riolo said.
“He’s been up in Atherton before and felt the situation with the Pride was a good fit.
“He had a lot of offers (to play) at different levels. Obviously he wanted to return to Australia though.”
Former Canberra Raiders teammate Andrew Dunemann told the Cairns Post in October the former NSW Origin halfback was often unjustly criticised.
“You know, a lot has been said about Todd in the past but the fact of the matter is he is a really good bloke,” Dunemann said.
“If you look at it, he only ever harms himself. I hope he comes back and does really well.”
Carney is expected to play half back this season where the club believes he’ll be wellplaced to mentor young Pride players Jack Campagnolo and Jordan Biondi-Odo.
The 31-year-old posted a photo of himself on social media performing handstands during an intense training session yesterday morning and alluded to the next phase in his career.
“One last shed sesh before the new chapter begins,” he wrote on Instagram.
The Pride will hold a press conference in the coming days introducing their star signing.
The club are also expected to announce the North Queensland Cowboys players allocated to their team in 2018.
Williamson wouldn’t name the full list of players allocated to the Pride this season but did exclusively reveal to the Cairns Post that Far North juniors – including Ben Hampton and Jake Clifford – would play for the Pride when not in Cowboys colours.
“The Far North Queensland players stay in the Far North. That’s one of the great things about the North Queensland system,” he said.
“That said, we really hope those boys are playing for the Cowboys.”