New Shark Carney leaves worries behind

Star Cronulla recruit Todd Carney insists he’s put his troubled past behind him and is on track to make a success of the upcoming NRL season with his new club.

Carney is set to make his first appearance for the Sharks in Friday night’s trial against reigning premiers Manly at Toyota Stadium and will debut at halfback alongside Wade Graham.

The 25-year-old is well and truly on his last chance as an NRL player having left Canberra and Sydney Roosters in disgrace after a long line of misdemeanours.

But the talented playmaker says he’s only looking forward as he attempts to help a new-look Sharks outfit deliver on their pre-season potential.

Carney spoke to the media for the first time as a Cronulla player on Tuesday, saying he did not want any distractions during the pre-season.

“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 and there wasn’t much football talk to be spoken about, so we just left it.

“… I just want to play some good football and get the Sharks back to where we know that they can be and I’m looking forward to football.”

Carney said his life off the park was more settled but 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.

“I’m happy just to go about my business.”

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan confirmed Carney would get first crack at the Sharks’ No.7 jersey against the Sea Eagles, with Graham playing at five-eighth.

Flanagan said Carney had been hugely impressive in pre-season and believed the best way for him to shift the focus away from his personal life would be to perform on the field.

“I think with the public, obviously everyone is still a little bit apprehensive about where Todd Carney is and everyone says ‘leopards don’t change their spots’,” Flanagan said.

“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.

“So it’s a work in progress and I’m glad we’ve got him.”

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