The omens may not be good but coach Paul Green believes Todd Carney can “bring plenty” to North Queensland.
The NRL are reportedly set to knock back the Cowboys’ request to give Carney a fourth lifeline after Green confirmed the club were interested in signing the controversial playmaker for 2018.
Carney, 31, has been sacked by Canberra, Sydney Roosters and Cronulla in an 11-season NRL career abruptly halted in 2014 by the infamous “bubbler” incident.
His fate now rests in the hands of the NRL integrity unit but News Corp Australia reports that they are set to block the 2010 Dally M medallist.
The Cowboys made the Carney request despite Brisbane copping criticism for signing Matt Lodge after he escaped jail for a drunken 2015 rampage in New York.
Green remains hopeful Carney would be cleared.
“He’s a talented player, that’s never been an issue,” he said of Carney, who plays for Cowboys feeder club Northern Pride.
“Todd Carney in a squad where his head is right and committed to what the club are all about would bring plenty to any squad.
“(But) there’s obviously a fair bit that needs to go into that before we get to that point.”
There was speculation the Cowboys would announce Carney’s one-year deal as early as Wednesday, pending NRL approval.
But the NRL said no contract had yet been lodged to register Carney.
“If a contract is lodged, we will consider it on its merits,” a spokesman said.
“Any club seeking to register him would need to demonstrate what changes he has made to his life since he was previously in the NRL.
“We would need to be convinced that he is fit and proper to be part of the NRL.”
There was confusion on Tuesday after Northern Pride claimed a contract had been lodged to play for the Cowboys, only for North Queensland and the NRL to deny a contract had been signed.
Green said he “flatly refused” Carney’s request to play for the Cowboys when the former NRL bad boy first arrived at the Pride late last year.
But the Cowboys coach said he now wanted to offer Carney another chance.
“Some people may say it is not his second chance but I think he has realised what he has lost in the last few years being over in Super League,” Green said.
“And he’s pretty passionate about having another crack at the NRL.
“There is a fair bit of water to go under the bridge before we can confirm anything but all I can say is that at this stage the club is investigating it.
“I don’t want to talk about hypotheticals at this stage.”