Rolled gold: Alessandro Del Piero of the All Stars. Credit:Getty Images ‘‘To be honest, I didn’t really know what to talk to her about. I didn’t want to ask her about being in jail, but I did talk to her about visiting my mate in jail and that experience. Then someone asked me to pose for a photo. I did that. If people are kind or decent to me and ask for a photo I’m not about to be rude to them. I’m not ashamed to appear in a photo with them ... I don’t see the big issue or the interest in the picture.’’ Carney thinks that his photo was released on Mercedes’ Facebook page. ‘‘I didn’t look at how it got out, but I saw her the day after it hit the headlines and she was very apologetic. I don’t hold it against her. She didn’t do it to be mean to me.’’ Carney is still in limbo – his case is before the NRL.

It’s known he is becoming increasingly frustrated with the process – and the prospect of taking civil action against the Sharks is becoming increasingly likely. Carney was rushed out the door and the haste to dismiss him has the potential to cost the club. Carney has strong support from the NRL players as a Rugby League Week poll revealed. They believe that he should not have been sacked and should be reinstated. ‘‘I saw the results of the poll,’’ Carney said. ‘‘I was quite overwhelmed because it has not been an easy time for me or the family. There is no way I can repay the players for showing their support, but I would like to thank them publicly. It means a lot to me.’’ Carney is still hopeful of playing in the NRL in 2016 – he knows that next year will be too difficult. He wants to start sorting out next season – France is the most likely option. He already knows that November 10 is the first day of pre-season and that date is circled on his calendar. No need for big imports, says Kewell

Football legend Harry Kewell says the A-League has outgrown the need to import big-name stars such as Alessandro Del Piero. “We’ve kind of stopped these players just coming for the money, but it is now producing some good little players,” he said. “What the competition needs is a punishment for losing, coming last. As the season goes on, the bottom teams need to have that fear that comes with the threat of being relegated.” Tigers boss falls silent This column is still waiting for a return call from Grant Mayer as the Wests Tigers lurch through one of their most embarrassing periods as a club. ‘‘There is a distinct lack of leadership at the club,’’ Tigers great Benny Elias said. ‘‘And that’s why we are in this embarrassing mess. I’ve been away overseas and you just can’t imagine a club in the EPL having these dramas because the boss would take hold of the matter and shut it down. I’m thoroughly ashamed for the club and for the club’s supporters, and steps must be taken. They deserve much better than this circus act which is going on.’’ Mayer has never been publicity shy – the players refer to him as ‘‘Google’’ because he is checking for his name or ‘‘Hollywood’’ because of his love of the limelight. He hasn’t been as keen to speak with this reporter because we exposed his thought-police tactics in editing Robbie Farah’s media conference. It was then leaked to a couple of his supporters in the media he’d had a ‘‘meeting’’ with Farah. The meeting went something like this. Mayer walked into the Tigers’ dressing room on Wednesday. The atmosphere turned icy. Mayer inquired about Robbie’s well-being. Farah fobbed him off and then when he tried to engage him in further conversation Farah said they both have a job to do and they should each get on with it. The meeting ended. Farah made several requests to be released from the club – all of which fell on deaf ears. When he calmed down, Farah realised an exit from the club caused by Gorden Tallis and Mayer is not the way he wants to go and it’s not how he wants to be remembered. Farah could sink Mayer for his behaviour last week if he chooses. Farah has another enemy in Mayer ally Steve Roach. Mayer and Roach go back to the Manly days – Roach spends plenty of time in Mayer’s office so he knows all the ins and outs at the club, including information such as when a coach is going to be sacked. Roach is a long-time Farah critic. You’ll remember he said Farah wasn’t an Origin player. Since that time Farah has been one of the Blues’ best. Roach also wrote in his Illawarra Mercury column a couple of weeks ago that Farah needed to pull his head in and lead the team. During Origin he was telling people Farah was out of line for comparing himself with Cameron Smith. But he was also far from supportive of Potter. If the Mayer-Farah relationship is unworkable, it’s hard to imagine Roach giving kind words of encouragement to Farah about his dummy-half play. Sonny side up Despite league bracing itself for the departure of Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess to rugby, there may be a bright side. Burgess has already indicated he may return – and be very sure that the Roosters won’t die wondering when it comes to trying to get SBW back to the club after he plays the World Cup and competes at the 2016 Olympics. Roosters boss Nick Politis would love nothing more than SBW returning and finishing his career in the NRL with the Roosters. He knows what he has done for the Roosters’ culture and that he is a drawcard for other players. Consider it a long-range project.

Mason on move? Willie Mason has been one of the few positive aspects of a horrendous year for the Knights – but he too may abandon ship. The club needs a strong leader such as Mason on board – but there are several clubs making inquiries. Penrith and the Dragons have been mentioned. The Knights have been using the line that they threw him a ‘‘lifeline’’ when his career was in trouble. Mason has more than paid them back for that act. Mason was attracted to the Knights because of Wayne Bennett – but he is heading home. As much as he loves Newcastle, Mason knows a post-football career in the media is awaiting and a team with a strong Sydney profile may serve him well. Tahs drop ball The Waratahs’ transformation from basket case to champions has been a story to rejoice in – but as for getting some bang from their buck when it comes to exposing their sponsors in the media, they have dropped the ball. For two days after winning the championship, the Waratahs didn’t provide a media event to talk to the heroes of the victory. No wonder the code is struggling financially. Sticky situation

Ricky Stuart spent the week wondering if he’d get stitched up by any of his former players at Parramatta as he tackled his old club for the first time since he quit the Eels. Stuart knows some of the players he wanted gone would have it in for him. He does have a good rapport with several of his former players, and still chats to them. The club was happy that Canberra had to make the trip to play in Darwin because it is aware Stuart didn’t like that trip when he was Eels coach. It’s worth noting that plenty of the players Stuart was developing have come through for the Eels.