Carney staying put as NRL clubs step lightly
MANLY’S salary cap woes have Northern Pride coach Ty Williams more confident Todd Carney will line up in the Intrust Super Cup in 2018 despite some “interesting” conversations about his future.
The Sea Eagles appeared a leading contender to hand the 31-year-old halfback an NRL lifeline before the club was issued a breach notice from the governing body this week.
Pride coach Williams dismissed the link as speculation, particularly in light of the salary cap dramas, of the opinion Carney had “a fair few things to tick off” before a club bit the bullet and tested the waters of NRL registration.
“I think a lot of clubs are holding off, because whoever’s the first team that actually puts that registration in, it’s going to be put through the ringer and there’s going to be a fair few things that need to be ticked off before he gets registered, but at the moment he’s a Northern Pride player, so we’ll keep going like that and hopefully we’ll have him here next year.
“He knows that he has to work hard to get that chance. He realises he can only do that on the footy field, so at the moment I’m comfortable in saying we’ll have him next year.”
Williams said Carney’s value had already shown in promotional work and his influence on the training standards required for the club’s under-18 and under-20 players.
But the real character assessment that could sway the NRL and clubs will come in the New Year as the five-eighth increasingly becomes the face of the Pride at junior rugby league training and sign-on days.
The NRL has remained coy on whether they would consider registering a Todd Carney contract, insisting “any club seeking to register him would need to prove he is fit and proper to be part of the NRL”.
Williams said it was something Carney was happy to do in a bid to finish his career at the top level.
“He knows he has to get out in the community and engage himself, so we’re going to get him to the junior stuff ... and community events,” he said.
“Todd’s a professional in what he’s done. He’s more or less said it is what it is, he’ll just keep training with what he’s doing now.
“Whether we have him beyond that, I’m not sure, but I’m sure there’s going to be a few eyes on TV channels when we get our first TV game with Todd Carney running around.”
The QRL is set to officially reveal today when fans will see the star recruit in action, should he remain at the Pride.
Major sponsor Lottoland has vowed to stand by Manly through the investigation.
■ A concerned Gorman, who only started as Manly CEO less than a month ago, called a staff meeting yesterday morning to discuss the NRL investigation, telling club employees “that the one thing we can do is control our future, our values and our culture”.
Sports sponsorship and marketing experts believe the potentially damaging cap issues could set Manly back five years – and up to $10m.
One said: “Competition for sponsorship dollars has never been tougher. Signage at grounds, harder than it’s ever been before. Your brand and integrity is everything. It could be a lights-out moment for Manly.”
Gorman said his club wouldn’t be rushed into their response to the NRL findings.
Manly may have the $400,000 ripped from their salary cap next season as punishment, along with a hefty fine of up to $1m.
Two club officials also face deregistration.
“There have been some serious allegations in these preliminary findings,” Gorman said.
“These issues need to be addressed. It is incumbent on us to take the time to work through the documentation we have been given to form an appropriate response.”
AT THE MOMENT I’M COMFORTABLE IN SAYING WE’LL HAVE HIM NEXT YEAR