TODD IN NRL LIMBO
THE Cowboys face a battle to sign Todd Carney, with the NRL integrity unit to investigate whether the rugby league bad boy is ready to return to the big league.
North Queensland coach Paul Green yesterday confirmed the club is exploring the possibility of signing Carney but made it clear the Cowboys have yet to table a formal contract for the 31-yearold.
It’s understood the Cowboys are likely to offer a one-year contract, with Carney’s coach at feeder-club Northern Pride, Ty Williams, confident the playmaker will receive an NRL lifeline. But even if Green formalises plans to snare Carney, the Cowboys will face one final hurdle in the form of the NRL integrity unit, which is mindful of his string of previous offences.
Carney (right) has previously been sacked by three NRL clubs – the Raiders, Roosters and Sharks – and an NRL spokesman said last night there is no guarantee they will rubberstamp any Cowboys deal.
“If a contract is lodged we will consider it on its merits,” the spokesman said. “Any club seeking to register him would need to demonstrate what changes he has made to his life since he was previously in the NRL.
“We would need to be convinced that he is fit and proper to be part of the NRL.”
While Carney is in North Queensland’s feeder-club stable, the Cowboys’ interest is surprising given they already have Te Maire Martin as a back-up to halves Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan. Carney did some testing at the club a fortnight ago and has met with Green to discuss his future but the Cowboys coach insists negotiations are ongoing.
“All I’ll say on Todd Carney is the club is investigating the possibility of Todd playing here,” he said. “There is obviously a fair bit that needs to go into that before we get to that point.
“There is a process that goes with that. We are in the middle of that process at the moment.”
Asked if Carney had changed, Green said: “Time will tell. To be fair, Todd’s done everything asked of him since he’s been back. He is pretty passionate about having one more crack in the NRL.”
CAMERON Smith believes Matt Lodge is Brisbane’s premiership X-factor as Broncos assistant coach Kevin Walters warned the controversial prop not to let off-field dramas derail his season.
Lodge spent 18 months as a teenager training alongside Smith at Melbourne and now the champion rake says the Broncos hulk could torpedo the Storm’s quest for back-toback titles.
The 116kg bookend will put aside months of savage criticism about his registration by the NRL when he makes his Broncos debut in tomorrow’s season-opener against the Dragons at Kogarah.
The 22-year-old is rated a future Origin and Test player and Smith admits Lodge has the size and skill to give Bris-
bane the front-row presence to help snap their 12-year title drought.
Asked if Lodge can be their premiership X-factor, Smith said: “I think he can be. The Broncos players I’ve spoken to have big wraps on him.
“He trains hard and he works hard. He’s a fantastic player.
“He was only a baby at Melbourne when he was with us.
“We are yet to see him pull on that jersey for the Broncos but there’s no doubt he’s a quality player. I’m not sure about Origin just yet ... it’s a big step up from club football to Origin player.”
Walters urged Lodge not to allow ongoing criticism to erode his game.
“Playing in the NRL at the top level is very consuming, so it’s important that Matt keeps his focus,” said Walters.