Todd Carney knows he needn’t look far for inspiration as he attempts to shed his NRL bad boy image with new club Cronulla.

The 25-year-old insists he has put his troubled past behind him and is firmly focused on making his mark for the Sharks ahead of his club debut in Friday night’s trial match with Manly at Toyota Stadium.

And he’s hoping to follow the example set by Paul Gallen.

The Sharks captain was once no stranger to controversy himself, but has developed into one of the most respected players in the game through his inspirational on-field performances.

Carney said Gallen had set a “perfect example” to follow while Sharks coach Shane Flanagan hopes the NSW State of Origin captain’s influence will rub off on the former Sydney Roosters and Canberra playmaker.

“Gal’s done a great job and it’s all been about Gal’s performances on the field and that’s where we need to get Todd to,” Flanagan said.

“If he’s playing good football, the public will accept that and obviously he’s got some responsibilities off the field as well.

“But his first step is about playing good football for the Sharks and in general, the football public will respect that and support him.

“… Obviously everyone is still a little bit apprehensive about where Todd Carney is and everyone says ‘leopards don’t change their spots’.

“But we’re just concentrating on Todd Carney on the football field and if you get that right, we’ve seen how good he can be.”

Carney addressed the media for the first time as a Cronulla player on Tuesday, having deliberately kept himself out of the spotlight following his sacking by the Roosters last year.

“I just wanted to get settled in at Cronulla, get some training done, leave all that stuff behind me,” Carney said when asked why he had not fronted the media earlier.

“That was the first thing we spoke about when I got here, was to move on, and that’s what I decided to do.

“Now I’m just really looking forward to football.”

While adamant his life off the park was more settled, Carney acknowledged his track record meant he would remain under heavy scrutiny.

“That’s been like that for the back end of my career and I’m happy with that,” Carney said.

“I’ve just got to work forward and play some good football and that’s the best way to keep that on track.

“… Every rugby league player has to live up to that (scrutiny) but obviously I’ve been in the papers a lot more than everyone else and I expect that.”

After an impressive pre-season, Sharks coach Shane Flanagan confirmed Carney would get first crack at the Sharks’ No.7 jersey against the Sea Eagles.

Graham appears the front-runner to partner him in the halves this season but Flanagan said halves Chad Townsend, Albert Kelly and Jeff Robson were also options with Carney at five-eighth.

Gallen and Andrew Fifita will miss Friday’s trial due to the All Stars match while Jeremy Smith, Anthony Tupou, Josh Cordoba and Nathan Stapleton will sit out the match.