The Cronulla Sharks have terminated the contract of Todd Carney after a photo emerged on social media of the star player performing a lewd act at a urinal.

The image went viral after it was published on Twitter on Saturday and the Sharks issued a statement on Sunday night saying they had sacked the five-eighth.

"The Cronulla Sharks 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," the statement from club chief executive Steve Noyce said.

Todd Carney's history of trouble Take a look through the off-field indiscretions that have littered Todd Carney's NRL career.

"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."

The statement said the club and the NRL were committed to working with Carney, his family and management in implementing appropriate counselling and support.

The NRL came out with its own statement after the dismissal was made official saying they supported the decision as the photo damaged 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," chief operating officer Jim 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 had received some support earlier on Sunday, with rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns declaring the Sharks "surely couldn't sack him for that".

"It's silly ... it's stupid (but) he is only doing it to himself," Johns said on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show.

But Johns seemed to be in a minority for those offering support to Carney, with the overwhelming majority of pundits coming out in support of sacking the one-time representative star.

Latest scandal far from a one-off

It is the latest incident in Carney's colourful career, which has been marred by alcohol-related issues.

The 28-year-old NSW representative and 2010 Dally M medallist was banned from playing in the NRL in 2009 due to repeated alcohol-related incidents when he was at Canberra.

Carney joined Cronulla in 2012 after being sacked by the Sydney Roosters for breaking a club-issued alcohol ban in 2011.

He linked with the Roosters following a year playing rugby league in regional Queensland.

This latest incident comes after Carney starred for the battling Sharks in their thrilling 24-22 comeback win over Brisbane on Friday night.

Earlier on Sunday, NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said the game's governing body would not shirk from taking a tough stance on Carney, but was not "jumping to conclusions" on the matter.

"We have simply been in touch with the Sharks this morning and they are dealing with the matter as we speak," Greenberg told Triple M NRL on Sunday.

"We have a process for these sorts of things that the club will work through and they will make a determination with us at some point in time.

"It is important these things go through the Integrity Unit.

"If there is one thing we have seen under Dave Smith's leadership the last 12 months, we will do things consistently and appropriately through the process.

"We are not shy of making hard decision when they need to be made, but we have to do it in the fullness of the information when that becomes known."

ABC/AAP