Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has launched a scornful attack on speculation surrounding star NRL playmaker Todd Carney.

In the wake of Carney’s match-winning display in his side’s 45-4 crushing of the Warriors on Sunday, Flanagan issued an impromptu plea for the “scandalous” rumours to cease.

Carney tried himself to end the speculation, related to alleged drug use, via Twitter.

However, Flanagan said a cloud continued to hang over the 26-year-old which was clearly affecting him off the field.

“There’s been a lot of rumour and speculation going on about Todd in his last six weeks since Origin,” he said.

“It’s been totally unfair, it’s been incorrect and it’s scandalous that it’s gone on.”

Flanagan said the Sharks had spoken to the NRL about the issue and tried to track down where the rumours had begun but with no success.

The coach said it made Carney’s dominant 25-point display on Sunday all the more remarkable, given the stress he was under.

“It’s affecting him, his family and sponsors of the club so it’s not fair,” Flanagan said.

“The way Todd played today, to score two tries and kick all those goals, is a credit to his mental toughness and his attitude.”

Carney tweeted his bemusement about the issue over two weeks ago.

“Surely people could come up with a better rumor than what I’m hearing at the moment. It’s almost as good as pigs can fly #whatsnextimpregnant,” Carney posted on July 25.