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Cronulla Sharks lifeline beckons Todd Carney
Stuart Honeysett
From: The Australian August 18, 2011 12:00AM
CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan has admitted he could be interested in luring Todd Carney to the Sharks if he is sacked by the Sydney Roosters.
However, Flanagan, who is preparing his team to face the Roosters on Saturday night, said he would have to convince his board first to take a chance on the embattled five-eighth.
The future of Carney will not be known until he fronts the Roosters board next week to respond to a breach notice for a series of alcohol-related offences, but there were indications last night he had lost the support of coach Brian Smith and his days were numbered at Bondi Junction.
While most clubs have baulked at the prospect of signing Carney and it was believed his future might lie overseas, Flanagan did not rule out trying to lure him to the Sutherland Shire if he became a free agent.
"I think he would be a great acquisition, but there's a lot of other stuff to go with it so I'd have to jump a lot of hurdles," Flanagan said. "I'd have to go through a lot of levels of administration and board approval.
"I like him as a football player and I know all coaches are the same -- they always think they can turn a troubled child. But, as I said, I'd broach it with our board if it did come about, and we'd see what happens."
Carney, Nate Myles and Frank-Paul Nuuausala were all issued with breach notices last week for breaking a team edict not to drink alcohol for a fortnight. For Carney, it was the latest in a long line of indiscretions this year that have included a drink driving charge and breaking a club rule not to drink alcohol while injured.
The trio were not considered for selection for last Sunday's game against the Roosters but Nuuausala's case has been dealt with and he has rejoined the team at training. It is up to Smith whether he wants to play him against the Sharks at the SFS.
As for Carney and Myles, they have been ordered to stay away from training until they plead their case before the board next week. Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce chose not to respond to reports that Smith -- who was once Carney's greatest supporter and embraced him when he won the Dally M last year -- has told the club to cut him loose.
"It would be inappropriate for me to comment on any of those sort of things," Noyce said.
He is in the process of gathering information for the board but said he has not finalised the recommendation he will make to directors regarding the fate of Myles and Carney.
Myles has already signed with the Gold Coast for next season and it has been reported this week the three disgraced players might have played their last game for the club this year. "We're working through those things," Noyce said. He dismissed reports there were other players who broke the alcohol ban the night Carney, Myles and Nuuausala were caught but had evaded public scrutiny.
"My understanding is there weren't any other players involved in breaking the team code," Noyce said.
Veteran fullback Anthony Minichiello also said he was unaware of any other players breaking the ban and the players would support whatever stance the board took.
"I think it is up to the club now and we will support whatever decision they make," Minichiello said. "We've got a job to do and that is to play footy. It's not for me to say what they should do. I feel for the players as it's hard not being involved in the playing group when you have been left out.
"In any footy club you don't want players getting into trouble, but it happens in every day life, we'd like it if everything could be kept internal, but you guys (the media) always seem to find out everything."
Minichiello also said the Roosters were determined to finish their season with consecutive wins following last Sunday's stunning upset over premiership winners St George Illawarra.
The veteran fullback said beating the Dragons had given the battling Roosters the confidence they needed to get back on track and they were ready for a repeat against the Sharks.
"We want to stay away from the bottom end of the ladder and try to finish as high as possible so we can have a good run into next pre-season," Minichiello said.
The team will have the same dynamic line-up as last week, with the exception of returning New Zealand international Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who will replace Kane Linnett, and Tom Symonds, who joins the squad as 18th man.
The veteran fullback applauded the performance of the rookie players who were selected to play in place of the dumped trio for last Sunday's game against the Dragons.
"They got a lot of confidence out of beating last year's premiers and hopefully they can start to think they can produce that sort of performance week-in and week-out now," Minichiello said.
Cronulla Sharks lifeline beckons Todd Carney
Stuart Honeysett
From: The Australian August 18, 2011 12:00AM
CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan has admitted he could be interested in luring Todd Carney to the Sharks if he is sacked by the Sydney Roosters.
However, Flanagan, who is preparing his team to face the Roosters on Saturday night, said he would have to convince his board first to take a chance on the embattled five-eighth.
The future of Carney will not be known until he fronts the Roosters board next week to respond to a breach notice for a series of alcohol-related offences, but there were indications last night he had lost the support of coach Brian Smith and his days were numbered at Bondi Junction.
While most clubs have baulked at the prospect of signing Carney and it was believed his future might lie overseas, Flanagan did not rule out trying to lure him to the Sutherland Shire if he became a free agent.
"I think he would be a great acquisition, but there's a lot of other stuff to go with it so I'd have to jump a lot of hurdles," Flanagan said. "I'd have to go through a lot of levels of administration and board approval.
"I like him as a football player and I know all coaches are the same -- they always think they can turn a troubled child. But, as I said, I'd broach it with our board if it did come about, and we'd see what happens."
Carney, Nate Myles and Frank-Paul Nuuausala were all issued with breach notices last week for breaking a team edict not to drink alcohol for a fortnight. For Carney, it was the latest in a long line of indiscretions this year that have included a drink driving charge and breaking a club rule not to drink alcohol while injured.
The trio were not considered for selection for last Sunday's game against the Roosters but Nuuausala's case has been dealt with and he has rejoined the team at training. It is up to Smith whether he wants to play him against the Sharks at the SFS.
As for Carney and Myles, they have been ordered to stay away from training until they plead their case before the board next week. Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce chose not to respond to reports that Smith -- who was once Carney's greatest supporter and embraced him when he won the Dally M last year -- has told the club to cut him loose.
"It would be inappropriate for me to comment on any of those sort of things," Noyce said.
He is in the process of gathering information for the board but said he has not finalised the recommendation he will make to directors regarding the fate of Myles and Carney.
Myles has already signed with the Gold Coast for next season and it has been reported this week the three disgraced players might have played their last game for the club this year. "We're working through those things," Noyce said. He dismissed reports there were other players who broke the alcohol ban the night Carney, Myles and Nuuausala were caught but had evaded public scrutiny.
"My understanding is there weren't any other players involved in breaking the team code," Noyce said.
Veteran fullback Anthony Minichiello also said he was unaware of any other players breaking the ban and the players would support whatever stance the board took.
"I think it is up to the club now and we will support whatever decision they make," Minichiello said. "We've got a job to do and that is to play footy. It's not for me to say what they should do. I feel for the players as it's hard not being involved in the playing group when you have been left out.
"In any footy club you don't want players getting into trouble, but it happens in every day life, we'd like it if everything could be kept internal, but you guys (the media) always seem to find out everything."
Minichiello also said the Roosters were determined to finish their season with consecutive wins following last Sunday's stunning upset over premiership winners St George Illawarra.
The veteran fullback said beating the Dragons had given the battling Roosters the confidence they needed to get back on track and they were ready for a repeat against the Sharks.
"We want to stay away from the bottom end of the ladder and try to finish as high as possible so we can have a good run into next pre-season," Minichiello said.
The team will have the same dynamic line-up as last week, with the exception of returning New Zealand international Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who will replace Kane Linnett, and Tom Symonds, who joins the squad as 18th man.
The veteran fullback applauded the performance of the rookie players who were selected to play in place of the dumped trio for last Sunday's game against the Dragons.
"They got a lot of confidence out of beating last year's premiers and hopefully they can start to think they can produce that sort of performance week-in and week-out now," Minichiello said.
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