The South Sydney Rabbitohs have advised the North Sydney Bears that the Club's priority is to develop the young players within its system and that there is no pathway to the NRL for Todd Carney through the Rabbitohs.

Rabbitohs General Manager of Football, Shane Richardson, said: "We've spoken to Norths about Todd Carney and it's our position that we will develop our young halves as opposed to bringing in a player from outside the Club in this instance.

"Players such as Adam Doueihi, Connor Tracey and Dean Hawkins are all excellent young players who we see as future players in the NRL and our efforts will be concentrated on them.

"'The Rabbitoh Way' is to build a culture that rewards young players for hard work, a culture that has respect for the Club and its people, respects the Members and sponsors that invest financially and emotionally into what we are doing here at South Sydney, and a culture of developing young players that want to play for South Sydney and that we see having a future NRL career.

"We intend to do that with the players we have here at the Club and our players, coaches and staff are all on board with this approach."