Todd Carney makes extraordinary return to NRL with Titans role after 10 year absence
The former NRL player won the Dally M medal in 2010.
Former Dally M winner Todd Carney has made an extraordinary return to the NRL having joined the Gold Coast Titans as a pathways coach after finishing his NRL career 10 years ago. Carney endured a turbulent career having won the Dally M award for the Roosters in 2010 having shot to superstardom at a young age.
However, the five-eighth was involved in a number of off-field incidents during his time at the Roosters and the Sharks before he left to the Catalan Dragons. And after two stints in the Super League, and an unsuccessful attempt to get back into the NRL, Carney retired in 2018.
Carney has been open about his trouble with alcohol earlier in his career and is coming up to two years sober. And after building a career off the field in the wake of his retirement, Carney has now taken up the opportunity to help younger players at the Titans.
The 38-year-old has previously opened up about his desire to help the next generation and admitted he is stunned at just how far he has come since playing NRL footy. “So much has changed,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“The opportunity to work with the Titans is massive. It’s another step in the right direction. Two years ago I didn’t think I’d be working in an organisation within the NRL. Now I spoke at the NRL rookie camp a month ago and will potentially speak at all 17 clubs. It’s been a massive change and rewarding to get things along the way. They wouldn’t have come about without making changes.”
While Carney admitted his appointment in the Titans' junior program may attract some backlash, he isn't worried about the criticism. Carney will be working with the club's 14-to-19-year-old talents. And the idea is for Carney to be able to help develop a five-eighth or halfback from their lower grades and mentor them into the first team. And while Carney is aware of what his new job involves, he has admitted his own family with partner Susie Pearl is his biggest priority.
Todd Carney's NRL career
While the decision to appoint Carney might raise eyebrows for some, there is no doubt Carney is equipped to help the future halves of the Titans. Having started his career with Canberra, Carney amassed 166 NRL games and scored 59 tries.
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He was the Dally M five-eighth of the year twice and won the medal while playing at the Roosters in 2010. He played for NSW in one State of Origin series and also played for the Kangaroos.
On the James Graham Podcast, Carney had previously mentioned his drinking impacted his career and admitted he wished he had stopped drinking earlier. Last year, Carney entered a rehabilitation facility and admits he has become a new person since the decision.
