Carney’s plea for final shot at big time
NEWS Corp Australia has struck a deal for Ladbrokes Australia to become its major wagering partner in Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania from February 1.
News Corp, publisher of the Townsville Bulletin, recently signalled the importance of wagering to its future growth when it purchased the country’s largest thoroughbred wagering affiliate company punters. com. au. A former Test and NSW Origin star, Carney has signed a three- year deal with the Cairns- based Northern Pride, a North Queensland Cowboys feeder club, but has a clause allowing him a release should he find an NRL contract.
“I have come back to Australia to hopefully give it one last crack,” Carney said.
“It would be good to finish at the top level. I wouldn’t be trying to get back in if I didn’t think I still had the ability.
“If I got a club I would be judged by my actions on and off the field. Everyone has their knockers and doubters. I’ve got a thick skin and can’t worry about that ... push it to one side and move on. “I can’t change things. ‘‘ I can only change the next outcome if it happens.
‘‘ Hopefully I can go out on the big stage again in the NRL.
“Some people may say it’s another chance but hopefully I can get an opportunity to prove myself. Even to just train and trial at a club. I feel I’ve done my time.
“This is why I have come to Northern Pride. I am on the back doorstep of clubs and there has been a little bit of interest of late.”
Carney has not played in the NRL since being sacked by Cronulla in 2014 for urinating into his own mouth.
He has compiled a submission for the NRL that details how he would behave if given an NRL contract.
Carney said he would abstain from alcohol if it meant signing an NRL contract.
“That’s definitely in the contract if I went to a club,” he said. ‘‘ And I wouldn’t be surprised if a club or the NRL put that out there and it wouldn’t be an issue for me. It is always spoken about and rightly so.”
Barrett has not made a final decision on whom he will sign, if anyone, but is monitoring Carney’s progress and behaviour in Cairns. Manly were expected to decide within the next fortnight on whether they would replace Blake Green.
However being found $ 400,000 over the salary cap with their third- party deals could affect their interest in Carney, as well as Newcastle’s Trent Hodkinson and Brock Lamb.