CRONULLA Sharks star Todd Carney’s agent claims the disgraced NRL player did not drink his own urine in a picture that ultimately ended his career.

“It’s a setup, like when people stand in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa,” Carney’s agent David Riolo told 2UE this morning.

“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.

“The person who took the photo contacted me this morning by text and said, ‘My phone got lost’ – supposedly – and that’s how the photo got out. It was meant to be a joke.

“He’s now got a photo of himself gone worldwide in not a very pleasant setting that’s going to be on the net for his family and everyone to see for future generations. That in itself is a very big price to pay.”

The claims come as the Sharks this morning cancelled their planned training session.

Carney had two warnings about poor behaviour this year before the embattled club sacked him over a social media photo scandal.

A vulgar picture of Carney urinating in his own mouth at a Cronulla nightspot went viral over the weekend — forcing Sharks directors to tear up his $3 million contract in a phone hook-up on Sunday.

The photo was taken two Saturdays ago in the men’s toilets at Northies after the team’s thrashing by Manly. The photo will not be printed because of its lewd nature.

VIDEO: VIRAL PIC MEANS CARNEY HAD TO GO

COMMENT: THE SHARKS HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO SACK CARNEY

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TIMELINE: STRIFE AND TIMES OF TODD CARNEY

It has emerged the wayward five-eighth had been hauled before club management twice this year over drink-related behaviour incidents. In one case he had been with another man who was charged with assaulting two teenagers in Cronulla mall.

A senior club official confirmed the Sharks had tried so hard to sign former Tigers superstar Benji Marshall because Carney was unlikely to see out his contract.

It was the second time Cronulla boss Steve Noyce, the former Roosters chief executive, has had to sack Carney.

The Daily Telegraph understands club chairman Damian Keogh consulted Blues State of Origin skipper Paul Gallen and coaching staff.

We’re trying to improve the club commercially and the culture is very important,” Mr Keogh said.

“We’ve made a decision to only sign players in future who can contribute to that.

“Unfortunately Toddy can be a really lovely young bloke but he has well-documented issues with alcohol that have led to a number of problems.”

On Sunday evening the Sharks released a statement saying Carney did not meet “the values and standards the club is looking to uphold and take into the future.”

The club has promised to implement appropriate counselling and support to Carney and his family.

Jim Doyle, the head of the NRL integrity unit, supported the Sharks’ decision to dump the troubled Carney and said that he had tarnished the image of the game.

“The overwhelming majority of NRL players are great role models who do such good work on and off the field,” Doyle said.

“But those who want to bring the game into disrepute are on notice that their behaviour will not be tolerated and the Sharks should be commended for taking such a strong stand in this instance.”

Carney still had three years left to run on his $650,000-a-year contract meaning he is almost $2 million out of pocket.

The shocking image of Carney at the urinal in the toilets at local Cronulla nightclub Northies

emerged on social media on Saturday night and went viral with Todd Carney trending on Twitter.

STATEMENT FROM THE CRONULLA SHARKS

“The Cronulla Shark 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 counseling and support, with the start of this process to begin tonight.”

THE CROWD: FOX SPORTS NRL commentator Warren Smith says if the Sharks had not sacked Carney they may as well have shut up shop.

Even Carney’s biggest supporter, suspended coach Shane Flanagan, refused to stand by the troubled five-eighth this time.

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.”

The Sharks had only just found some on-field joy, coming back from a club-record 22-point deficit to defeat the Broncos 24-22 in Brisbane on Friday night.

The Sharks had gone the previous three games without scoring a point and Carney was awarded three Dally M points as best on ground.

This is the latest incident to impact Carney’s career.

The 2010 Dally M medallist was banned from playing in the NRL in 2009 after repeated alcohol-related incidents while playing for Canberra.

That year he played with the Atherton Roosters in the Cairns competition before joining the Roosters in 2010.

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

Carney joined the Sharks in 2012 — the same year he made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales.

Todd Carney

Age: 28

Rep honours: 1 Test for Australia (2010), 3 games for NSW (2012)

- Makes NRL debut for Canberra Raiders in 2004 where he spent five seasons before having his contract torn up and was de-registered by the NRL after repeated offences involving alcohol.

- Spent the 2009 season playing with the Atherton Roosters in the Cairns competition before joining the Roosters the following year.

- In 2010 won the Dally M Medal for Player of the Year and led the Roosters to a grand final appearance against St George Illawarra.

- Roosters release Carney from the final year of his contract in 2011 following a string of alcohol related incidents which included a drink-driving charge and breaking a team imposed drinking ban.

- Joined the Sharks in 2012, the same year he made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales.

- In late 2013 agreed to a five-year deal that would keep him at Cronulla until the end of the 2018 season.