IN THE skateboarding community, it’s known as “bubbling”. But to Todd Carney, it might be better referred to as a career-killer.

Carney was yesterday sacked by the Sharks after a shocking, lewd picture of the NRL star went viral.

The image, which we’ve chosen not to publish, shows Carney in the toilets of Sutherland Shire nightclub Northies apparently urinating into his own mouth.

It is understood the photo was taken two weeks ago by another patron, and was later uploaded to Twitter.

This morning his agent David Riolo insisted his client did not consume his own urine and the photo was actually a set up.

In interview with 2UE this morning, he said his client had paid a heavy price over the photo.

“It’s a setup, like when people stand in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa,” he said.

“Todd’s paid a very, very heavy price for a photo that he didn’t want out there or upload himself. It was supposed to be kept between mates.”

Also known as “gargoyling”, bubbling is a craze that is reportedly prevalent within the skating community. Pictures are taken and then shared on social media.

One skater, Troy West, told Vice of his own personal exploits, claiming he was “bubbling” with other skaters in Austria and Italy.

Why, you might ask?

“To provoke reactions from laymen, of course.”

The act, typically performed in front of mates, sparks cheers and applause if the stream reaches the person’s lips and has “become the go-to party trick for football players, skaters and rockers”, The Courier-Mail reported.

While some commentators on Vice confirmed it did take place, many questioned just how big a fad it really was.

Pat Clark wrote: “Yep defiantly (sic) is a thing, just check out Callum Paul’s new pro model board ‘bubbler boy’.”

Others remained dubious with some questioning how widespread bubbling really was.

Sydney man, Clavell Lee wrote: “Bull. **it. Never heard of this cr** and I’ve lived in sydney all my life.”

Skater John Ryder also said he hadn’t heard of it.

“Yeah, this doesn’t happen in Oz, at all. Maybe one or 2 fruitcakes, but that’s it. I skate and live in Australia, and have never heard of ‘bubbling’ until today.”

President of the National Skateboarders Association of Australia Brad Shaw also said while he wasn’t aware of the so-called craze, he wouldn’t be surprised if it did take place among some skaters.

Mr Shaw admitted he was “old school and out of the loop” and was more concerned with setting up skateparks than trends.

“Some skaters certainly might do this,” he told news.com.au.

“But I certainly haven’t heard it’s common place.”

Bubbling is yet another example of sexism in footy. How can ladies participate? — Claire Sutherland (@brolga2) June 29, 2014

What's that Luis Suarez? You think you made an arse of yourself. Well, you really should meet Todd Carney. #NRL #carneygate #twoofthebest — Tom Wald (@tomwald76) June 29, 2014

If Steve Noyce sacked Todd Carney @Cronulla_Sharks he would surely be the first CEO in history to sack same player from 2 different clubs!!! — Greg Prichard (@gregprichard) June 29, 2014

But the latest picture wouldn’t be the first time Todd Carney has landed in hot water for his off-field indiscretions.

In 2009 he was banned from playing in the NRL after repeated alcohol-related incidents while playing for Canberra.

He spent the season playing with the Atherton Roosters in the Cairns competition before joining the Roosters the following year.

After two seasons with the Tricolours, Carney was released from the final year of his contract after he broke a team-imposed alcohol ban.

That same year, Carney was caught up in another scandal after nude pictures of him were found on a second-hand phone in Canberra.

Louise Hallam was shocked after finding the pictures of the footballer stored on the phone.

Carney admitted he had used a device to take explicit pictures of himself in front of the bathroom mirror and had forwarded the photos to a girl he met on Facebook months after she exchanged a lewd photograph of herself.

Cronulla Board members met yesterday to terminate his $650,000-a-year contract effective immediately, despite having three years remaining, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Sharks CEO Steve Noyce has confirmed that disgraced star Todd Carney has been sacked from the club.

The club released a statement last night surrounding the furore:

“The Cronulla Sharks Football Club has today after careful consideration and lengthy deliberation, including discussions with senior NRL management, made a decision to terminate Todd Carney’s NRL playing contract effective immediately.

“At the Sharks we are committed to building a successful club, a club with strong values and a club which sets and respects high standards in all aspects of its operations and activities.

“When Todd was first signed to the Sharks he was made well aware of his responsibilities both on and off the field, to himself, the club and to the game in general, however the photograph that appeared last night on social media does not meet the values and standards the club is looking to uphold and take into the future.

“As with any difficult decision, whilst you can’t change the past, it is important to put measures in place that can deliver positive outcomes both in the present and into the future.

“The club and the NRL will be committed to working with Todd, his family and his management in implementing appropriate counselling and support, with the start of this process to begin tonight.”

The Sharks are set to hold a meeting this morning over the sacking and are investigating who took the lewd photo.

Carney’s agent David Riolo told Fairfax the process followed by the club to sack him was unfair.

He said the star five-eighth didn’t even get a chance to defend himself over the incident and that he at least deserved a chance to explain his behaviour.

“I’m not defending the photo or anything like that but I think he deserved an opportunity to at least front the board to put forward a statement on his own behalf before they terminated a five-year contract.”

While Todd Carney is yet to officially comment on the photo, the subject got a fiery response on Sunday Triple M yesterday, with co-host and News Corp journalist Paul Kent blasting Carney as “a p***ed idiot at the trough acting like a goose.”

When asked about the pictures, the NRL’s Head of Football Todd Greenberg told Triple M:

“We’re clearly not in the business to talk about negativity for rugby league, we want to talk about the positive things,” he said.

“These things derail the conversation and that doesn’t please us.

“Where we have to make tough decisions, we’ll make them,” he said.

Rugby league immortal Andrew Johns told Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show that Carney should not be sacked over the latest incident.

“Surely they couldn’t sack him for that,” Johns said. “It’s silly ... it’s stupid (but) he is only doing it to himself.”

Meanwhile the reaction on Twitter ranged from shock to amusement and horror.

Todd Carney loses Sharks contract but picks up a Listerine Mouth Wash endorsement. #toddcarney — PETER HELLIAR (@pjhelliar) June 29, 2014

Just appalled by Todd Carney and that picture. Cargo pants are soooo last decade. Sack him! — Peter Ford (@mrpford) June 29, 2014

Todd Carney: urine over your head on this one mate — Stacy Farrar (@FarrarStacy) June 28, 2014

Others thought he was treated a little unfairly after being sacked.

What harm?Moralising over Todd Carney in silly pic of himself at a urinal? I tell ya I've seen League ppl hi office do a lot worse. — chris murphy (@chrismurphys) June 29, 2014

Very disappointed to say I have ever been involved in rugby league... Todd Carney sacking is a disgrace! — Ryan McGoldrick (@ryanmcgoldrick) June 29, 2014

While it's a disgusting act that Todd Carney has been caught doing, I don't see it as worthy of a sacking. He's only guilty of stupidity. — Tay (@TayJustTweeted) June 29, 2014

West Tigers star Braith Anasta, who played with Carney during his time at the Roosters in 2011, told Channel 7 news Carney is still a good footballer.

“I love the guy,” he said.

“He is a great footy player, unfortunately he puts himself in um, some tricky situations.”

A TIMELINE OF THE NRL CAREER OF TODD CARNEY:

June 2004: Makes NRL debut aged 17 for Canberra against the Bulldogs

Nov 2006: Banned from driving after being arrested for drink-driving

May 2007: Sentenced to 200 hours of community service and banned from driving until 2012 following a police chase in Canberra

July 2008: Stood down by Raiders after urinating on a member of the public inside a Canberra nightclub

Aug 2008: Sacked by Canberra and deregistered by NRL.

Feb 2009: Proposed move to Super League club Huddersfield collapses after UK officials reject visa application

March 2009: Banned from home town of Goulburn for a year and ordered to undergo alcohol counselling after a drunken rampage

April 2009: Signs for North Queensland bush team Atherton Roosters

Nov 2009: Officially signs for Sydney Roosters following months of speculation

Jan 2010: Sets alights a man’s trousers at a New Year’s Eve party, causing burns to his buttock, scrotum and thighs

Sep 2010: Awarded the Dally M medal as the NRL’s best player, Carney is a key figure in the Roosters’ charge to the grand final

Nov 2010: Makes his Test debut for the Kangaroos against New Zealand in the Four Nations tournament, his only international appearance

Nov 2010: Wins Rugby League International Federation’s international player of the year award

Feb 2011: Charged with drink-driving after being pulled over by police the morning after sinking eight to 10 beers

Mar 2011: Narrowly avoids jail following drink-driving charge and vows to attend Alcoholics Anonymous.

April 2011: Stood down indefinitely by the Roosters after a series of off-field alcohol-related indiscretions with teammate Anthony Watts. Carney returns to football in round 10

Sep 2011: Released from the final year of his contract with the Roosters after breaking an alcohol ban on a night out with teammates Nate Myles and Frank-Paul Nuuausala

Oct 2011: Joins Cronulla on a two-year deal worth around $650,000 a season

May 2012: Plays all three games for NSW in their 2-1 State of Origin series loss

May 2013: Signs five-year deal with Cronulla worth around $650,000 a year

June 2014: Sacked by Cronulla after an unsavoury photo of him at a urinal appeared on social media