Cronulla fire Carney over photo

Toddy hoses off $750,000

Cronulla Sharks five-eighth Todd Carney has been sacked by the NRL club after a photo of him engaging in a vulgar act in a hotel bathroom was widely circulated on social media on Saturday night.

The image, which is too graphic to publish and has yet to be authenticated, appears to show the 28-year-old Cronulla Sharks player urinating towards his mouth while standing at a urinal.

The photo is believed to have been taken in Sydney on Saturday night, not in Brisbane on Friday during the Sharks’ celebrations after their dramatic upset win over the Broncos, in which Carney starred.

It is the latest incident to hurt Carney’s career, which has been marred by alcohol-related issues.

Sharks chief executive Steve Noyce confirmed via a statement that Carney’s contract had been terminated after consultation with senior NRL management.

‘‘At the Sharks we are committed to building a successful club, a club with strong values and a club which sets and respects high standards in all aspects of its operations and activities,’’ Noyce said.

‘‘When Todd was first signed to the Sharks he was made well aware of his responsibilities both on and off the field, to himself, the club and to the game in general.

‘‘However the photograph that appeared last night on social media does not meet the values and standards the club is looking to uphold and take into the future,’’ he said.

Noyce said although the club had sacked Carney the organisation remained ‘‘committed to working with Todd, his family and his management in implementing appropriate counselling and support’’.

The NRL said it supported the Sharks’ decision.

Chief operating officer Jim Doyle said the photo posted on social media was unacceptable and tarnished the image of the game. ‘‘The overwhelming majority of NRL players are great role models who do such good work on and off the field,’’ he said.

‘‘But those who want to bring the game into disrepute are on notice that their behaviour will not be tolerated and the Sharks should be commended for taking such a strong stand in this instance.’’

Carney was understood to be on a deal worth $A700,000 per season, which is not due to expire until the end of the 2018 season.

He joined the Sharks in 2012 after being dismissed two years into a three-year contract with the Roosters after he broke a clubissued alcohol ban in 2011.

He had previously spent a year playing for a regional Queensland team after a string of alcoholrelated incidents during his time playing for the Canberra Raiders.

The Raiders sacked Carney in 2008 after he was suspended by the club for allegedly urinating on somebody’s head at a Canberra nightclub.

Rugby league immortal Andrew Johns had leapt to Carney’s defence before he was sacked.

‘‘Surely they couldn’t sack him for that,’’ Johns said on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

‘‘It’s silly . . . it’s stupid [but] he is only doing it to himself.’’

The image was published on Twitter and has since been retweeted and shared.