Barlow Park run on cards for quite some time

TROUBLED new recruit Todd Carney was almost a mid-season inclusion for the Pride nearly a decade ago when the then injury-ravaged club tried to sensationally poach the star playmaker from a lower-tier competition.

After the NRL refused to register Carney to play for the 2009 season, the halfback took his talents to the Tablelands, lining up for the Atherton Roosters in the Cairns District Rugby League competition.

On the field, Carney flourished, despite a nude photo scandal and being arrested in May of that year over an altercation outside a pub. He was later released without charge.

While the Pride publicly ruled out playing Carney at the start of the season, injuries to then halfback Chris Sheppard and other key players paved the way for a potential QRL call-up. Former Pride coach Andrew Dunemann made multiple efforts to get the New South Wales star to Barlow Park – a move repeatedly shut down by the league hierarchy.

“I can’t recall how it all went down exactly but I would have played him if I could have,” Dunemann said.

“I’m good mates with Todd and we were talking at the time. Obviously we played together at Canberra (Raiders).

“He was keen to do it to but he couldn’t because of the way it (Carney’s deregistration) was handled with the NRL.”

Former Roosters president Mick Nasser, who gave the future Dally M medallist a job and accommodation at his family’s Atherton hotel, said he supported the star in exile playing for the Pride at the time.

“One of the conditions of him playing was that he could only play at the lower level,” Nasser said.

“I would have let him play but it wasn’t about him playing rep footy. Todd just needed to get his life back on track. Dunemann knew that too.”

Carney’s chequered resume includes multiple arrests and a long battle with alcohol. He has been shown the door by three NRL clubs and most recently, English Super League’s Salford Red Devils.

Nasser, who still speaks with Carney, said his past indiscretions were overblown.

“He’s a really nice fella,” he said. “The media portrayed him as a bad boy but look at what he’s done compared to other people in the game.

“He’s got so much more to offer and he’s got a hell of a story to tell. I think the area’s fortunate to have him back.”

And if the prodigal son ever chose to return to Rooster Stadium, Nasser – a club patron and Atherton president for 18 years – said the club would welcome him with open arms.

“Well, I wouldn’t say no, that’s for sure,” he said.