Nov 1st, 2018

Nov 1st, 2018

THE top grade career of one of the most colourful and controversial players in rugby league history has come to an end.

Former Dally M Medallist Todd Carney has shelved his plan to return to the NRL in 2019 and signed a deal to captain-coach Byron Bay on the NSW north coast.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for me to put something back into the game and I’m looking forward to it,” the 32-year-old Carney told WWOS.

“I would have loved to play on in the NRL but then this chance came up and I decided to take it.”

(AAP)

Carney had a strife-torn career off the field but there was no doubting his talent on it.

From the moment he debuted for Canberra in 2004, he was a rare talent, a halfback with the abitilty to win matches.

After a series of controversial alcohol-related incidents, the Raiders released Carney and he spent time with the Atherton club before being given a lifeline by the Roosters in 2010.

He played some of his finest football in the red, white and blue, winning the Dally M Medal there.

Carney’s NRL future in doubt

Carney then moved to Cronulla, where he played more good football for three seasons before being sacked after the infamous ‘bubbler’ photo went viral.

That proved to be his last stint in the NRL, although he did play for Catalans Dragons, Salford and Hull Kingston Rovers in Super League in recent seasons.