TODD Carney is Sydney-bound but where will he land and is the NRL dream dead?

While North Queensland were willing to offer him a lifeline and a pathway back to first grade, the playmaker has decided to leave Queensland in order to be closer to his family.

He’s left three clubs as a result of off-field incidents but been away from the NRL for almost four years.

LIVE stream every game of every round of the 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week Foxtel Now trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >

So what does this mean in terms of the future?

Foxsports.com.au reached out to the Sydney-based NRL clubs and those close by to gauge their level of interest in the 31-year-old and whether a deal would be viable.

DRAGONS

Ben Hunt of the Dragons celebrates scoring a try.

This is a club blessed with halves options.

Beyond their million dollar man Ben Hunt and skipper Gareth Widdop, they have the versatility of Kurt Mann and a capable back-up No.7 in veteran ISP NSW playmaker Darren Nicholls.

The Dragons first ruled out making a play for Carney back in 2016 along with Chris Sandow - another player attempting to make an NRL return after time in Super League.

It’s understood the Red V still has no interest in offering Carney a lifeline.

ROOSTERS

It’s a club Carney is familiar with and one that’s invested a lot of money in their spine.

With Luke Keary, James Tedesco and Cooper Cronk locked up, Carney won’t be returning to Bondi Junction.

While they have the salary cap space to do it, they won’t be.

He left the Tricolours in 2011 in controversial circumstances and the club has moved on.

Back-up halves Mitch Cornish and Lachlan Lam are both off-contract at the end of the year but cheap options to retain should the club decide to do so.

RAIDERS

Todd Carney scores a try.

While the Green Machine is operating within a tight salary cap, they have 13 of their top squad off-contract this season.

While Aidan Sezer is on the verge of extending his contract for a further two seasons, Blake Austin remains unsigned.

Sam Williams has another year to run on his contract but should the club let Austin go, they’ll need to sign another playmaker … just not Carney.

It was an idea the Raiders tossed up last year.

Titans CEO Graham Annesley joins the Market Watch team, who run the fine tooth comb over the Gold Coast roster and other NRL talking points.

You can also subscribe via iTunes or for Android users, listen on the iPP Podcast Player app.

Captain Jarrod Croker is one of Carney’s best friends and raised the idea of a lifeline with coach Ricky Stuart before the 2018 pre-season kicked off.

But the Raiders powerbrokers quickly quashed the idea, closing the door on a return.

While Carney is within the club’s price range, it’s understood the original stance on Carney remains.

The Raiders have no interest in making a play for the half and will concentrate on re-signing Josh Papalii and Iosia Soliola as their priority.

WESTS TIGERS

Benji Marshall of the Tigers runs with the ball.

They’re yet to make a call on whether Benji Marshall will play on in 2019 but that won’t have a bearing on their stance towards Carney.

It’s understood the club has no interest in Carney with Tui Lolohea providing versatility, Josh Reynolds yet to find his place in the team and exciting five-eighth Tyson Gamble stepping up in the ISP NSW.

SHARKS

They’ve chopped and changed with combinations this year but don’t expect to see Carney back in a Sharks jersey.

He was sacked from the club following the infamous bubbler incident and would go on to sue them.

Todd Carney playing with the Sharks.

Carney and the club later reached a settlement for an unfair dismissal claim.

It’s understood any door leading to a potential return has been bolted shut.

While back-up playmaker Trent Hodkinson is unsigned beyond this season, emerging playmaker Kyle Flanagan is earmarked for first grade in the not too distant future.

SEA EAGLES

We all know Manly have issues with their salary cap but we also know Carney would come cheap.

With Trent Barrett struggling to find a partner for Daly Cherry-Evans, the most likely destination for Carney to land appears to be the Northern Beaches.

It wasn’t too long ago the club expressed an interest in signing the former Dally M Medallist.

Now, with Lachlan Croker sidelined for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury and unsigned after this season, recruiting someone of Carney’s ilk has never looked more attractive.

Jackson Hastings pictured playing for Blacktown.

Throw in the fact Jackson Hastings is off-contract and on the outer, Barrett needs options.

One of those options could be Tom Wright.

The youngster wore the No.6 for their 20s side last year but has spent 2018 playing in the centres.

Whether it’s this season or next, the club needs depth and Carney is the best unsigned option there is.

Time will tell if they go down that road. The club had not returned our messages at the time of publication.

BULLDOGS

It’s no secret the Bulldogs are a club with little wriggle room when it comes to their salary cap.

But even still, they won’t be making a play for Carney.

Kieran Foran is tied down on good coin, while Jeremy Marshall-King was rewarded for his hard work during the pre-season with a contract extension until the end of 2020.

While back-up halves Matt Frawley and Josh Cleeland are off-contract this year, Newcastle No.7 Jack Cogger is Belmore bound on a two-year-deal from next season.

RABBITOHS

Cody Walker scores a try.

Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker and Adam Doueihi are signed long-term.

Connor Tracey is back on the field after a several knee reconstructions and continues to build up confidence after quite some time away from the game and provides another half option should they need it.

It’s understood the club has ruled out making a play for Carney and will continue to develop their own talents and use the money they do have at boosting their backline and backrow.

PANTHERS

The club invested in James Maloney and are now attempting to secure Nathan Cleary long-term.

The talented 20-year-old comes off-contract in 2019 and Penrith believe the future success of their club is with the halfback at the helm.

With Jahrome Luai and Tyrone May also on the books, it’s understood the club has no interest in offering Carney a lifeline.

KNIGHTS

Injured half Mitchell Pearce.

With Mitchell Pearce, Kalyn Ponga and Connor Watson locked up long-term, the future is bright in Newcastle.

Despite a bumpy start to the season, Brock Lamb remains part of the club’s long-term plans and hopeful of signing a new deal.

Although they’ve lost talented half Jack Cogger to the Bulldogs next year, it’s understood the Knights won’t be throwing their hat in the ring for Carney.

They have plenty of exciting playmakers and fullbacks already in their junior system.

EELS

Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses are their halves and Brad Arthur is behind them.

Throw in Clint Gutherson who looks equally at home in the No.6 as he does the No.1 and they have an exciting spine.

They’re also a club spoilt with versatility.

Corey Norman (centre) of the Eels passes the ball.

Brad Takairangi and Kenny Edwards have previously played five-eighth in the wake of an injury crisis, while Will Smith, Josh Hoffman and Jarryd Hayne are also no strangers to the halves.

Keep in mind, they signed one of the most exciting young halves during the off-season in Jaeman Salmon from Cronulla on a three-year-deal and the Eels have no interest in making a play for Carney.

It’s understood their recruitment priority has been around the forward pack and backline.