TODD Carney has reportedly entered serious talks to join the North Queensland Cowboys in 2018 after declaring he is ready for another shot at the big time.
Carney returned to Australia in the summer in an attempt to land a shot at redemption with an NRL club and he is finally poised to do just that, according to Channel 7 reporter Josh Massoud.
Massoud on Monday night tweeted that Carney was on the verge of a one-year deal with the Cowboys as a back-up utility after recently undergoing testing with the club.
Carney is currently contracted to one of North Queensland’s feeder clubs, Intrust Super Cup side the Northern Pride, however he has a clause in his deal allowing him to leave should an NRL deal be struck.
Going away or overseas? Never miss a moment with every match LIVE and on demand available at www.WatchNRL.com.
Any deal with the Cowboys will have to be signed off by the NRL, with CEO Todd Greenberg on Monday reiterating his stance that an application to have a contract registered would be “considered on its merits”.
“I’ve never had an application for Todd Carney to come back and play in the National Rugby League,” Greenberg told Channel Nine News.
“I’ve been sitting in this chair for on two years now, if I get an application I’ll consider it on its merits but as of today I’ve never had one. We’d have to consider it carefully.”
News that Carney is on the verge of an NRL return comes after he told Channel Nine News he was motivated to return by his desire to fix his damaged reputation.
The former NSW five-eighth left the league after being sacked by Cronulla and deregistered in 2014 for the infamous “bubbler” incident.
Watch every NRL premiership game live in 2018 on Fox Sports. Sign up here to stream for free on a two week trial >
“That’s one of the big reasons why I want to come back and play. Not to be remembered for the so-called bubbler,” Carney told Channel Nine News.
“I appreciate what I lost and what I had. To get that back would be a dream come true again.
“For them (NRL bosses) to sit there in front of me and (let me) explain what’s happened in the past four years and where I’m at, I’m pretty sure they would see it’s a different Todd.”
Carney’s rap sheet features repeated drink driving offences, including one instance where he was handed a suspended jail sentence for leading police on a chase before fleeing.
While Carney has a chequered past, his last indiscretion was more than three years ago and, now 31, he says he’s matured enough to deserve another chance in a competition he’s confident he can still match it with the best in.
“I’m not going to blame it on being young, I was stupid,” he said.
“I think I’ve become a better player, a smarter player. I definitely still believe I can handle the NRL.”
