I’M NOT READY
Todd Carney says there is more work to be done before he can return to the NRL
TODD Carney has found an ally in Wayne Bennett, with the Broncos supercoach backing his bid to return to the NRL.
Carney yesterday conceded he was not physically ready for an NRL return and was yet to officially secure a deal to resurrect his career with the North Queensland Cowboys.
However, the 2010 Dally M Medal champion is adamant he can still be a force in the NRL and has set his sights on returning this season.
Carney, 31, must prove to the NRL he is worthy of a fourth chance after being sacked by the Raiders, Roosters and Sharks for offfield indiscretions.
His last game in the NRL was in June 2014 but Carney said he was not washed up as he prepares to make his playing return with the Northern Pride in the Intrust Super Cup.
“It’s not about whether I deserve it or not, I’m just putting my best foot forward,” he said. “I’ve been away for four years now. I’m back in Australia trying to get an NRL contract and this is where it starts, at the Pride.
“If I was to say I was physically ready for the NRL, I’d be lying.”
Broncos coach Bennett said Carney deserved another go if he had reformed and satisfied the league.
“If the game thinks Todd’s ready to come back, then I’m happy for Todd to come back,” Bennett said.
“He’s a wonderful player and we all love watching him play football.”
TODD Carney doesn’t know if he can scale the elite level of the game again even if the Cowboys put his case forward to the NRL Integrity Unit.
The Northern Pride fiveeighth yesterday wouldn’t say whether he deserved the chance to make a dream NRL return, but hoped his Intrust Super Cup form would speak volumes to the Cowboys should they, or any other potential suitors, put forward a deal.
Carney said it was out of his hands how the NRL judged his past behavioural issues and would not be drawn on whether a possible return being denied would be double standards considering Broncos prop Matt Lodge will return to the top level.
“It’s totally out of my hands. That will be up to the NRL if they get that contract. But the Matt Lodge thing is out of my control and that’s where it should be,” he said.
“There’s no deal on the table. Until that happens, I’m not too sure.
“It’s not about whether I deserve it or not. I’m just putting my best foot forward. Like I said before I’ve been away for four years now. I’m back in Australia trying to get an NRL contract and this is where it starts, at the Pride,” he said.
The first major hurdle came last week when he completed a testing session in Townsville but Carney said he hadn’t heard from the Cowboys since, although he realised he could not immediately hit the physical standards required to match it with the best.
“Like I said, I’ve been out of the NRL for four years. If I was to say I was physically ready for the NRL, I’d be lying,” he said. “We train three afternoons a week here. Yes, we do get a fair bit of running under our belts and we do the weights, but it’s not five, six days a week.
“If I could get there, yes. Am I capable of it, yes, and do I feel like I’m good enough to play in the NRL still, I’d say yes, because that’s what I truly believe and I wouldn’t be here sitting in front of you if I didn’t truly believe I could play in the NRL again.”
Cowboys supporters have questioned whether it would be worth giving a 31-year-old a contract, fearing Carney catapulting up the pecking order would risk retaining younger halves hopefuls in Te Maire Martin, Ben Hampton and former Under-20s player of the year Jake Clifford.
“I’m not 35,” the former Raiders, Sharks and Roosters player said. “The ages are getting older. Players out there are 35, 36 and as I said I’ve been away, I feel my body is refreshed and until I get that opportunity or if I do get that opportunity, I won’t know, no one will know.
“But like I said I feel I’m confident in my ability to do well at that level.”
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