Todd Carney set to sign NRL deal with North Queensland Cowboys

THE Cowboys face a battle to sign Todd Carney, with the NRL integrity unit to investigate whether the rugby league bad boy is ready to return to the big league.

Todd Carney in action for Northern Pride. Picture: Evan Morgan

THE Cowboys face a battle to sign Todd Carney, with the NRL integrity unit to investigate whether the rugby league bad boy is ready to return to the big league.

On Monday North Queensland coach Paul Green confirmed the club is exploring the possibility of signing Carney but made it clear the Cowboys have yet to table a formal contract for the 31-year-old.

The Courier-Mail understands the Cowboys are likely to offer a one-year contract, with Carney’s coach at feeder-club Northern Pride, Ty Williams, confident the playmaker will receive an NRL lifeline.

But even if Green formalises plans to snare Carney, the Cowboys will face one final hurdle in the form of the NRL integrity unit, which is mindful of his string of previous offences.

FULL SQUADS: Round 1 NRL teams revealed

MIKE COLMAN: 10 things we can’t wait to see in NRL this season

UNCERTAIN: Injured Coote feeling pressure over Cowboys spot

Todd Carney in action for Northern Pride. Picture: Evan Morgan

Carney has previously been sacked by three NRL clubs — the Raiders, Roosters and Sharks — and an NRL spokesman said there is no guarantee they will rubberstamp any Cowboys deal.

“If a contract is lodged we will consider it on its merits,” the spokesman said.

“Any club seeking to register him would need to demonstrate what changes he has made to his life since he was previously in the NRL.

“We would need to be convinced that he is fit and proper to be part of the NRL.”

While Carney is in North Queensland’s feeder-club stable, the Cowboys’ interest is surprising given they already have Te Maire Martin as a back-up to halves Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan.

Carney did some testing at the club a fortnight ago and has met with Green to discuss his future but the Cowboys coach insists negotiations are ongoing.

“All I’ll say on Todd Carney is the club is investigating the possibility of Todd playing here,” he said.

“There is obviously a fair bit that needs to go into that before we get to that point.

“There is a process that goes with that. We are in the middle of that process at the moment.”

Asked if Carney had changed, Green said: “Time will tell. To be fair, Todd’s done everything asked of him since he’s been back.

“We got asked about the opportunity when he first signed with the Pride and we flatly refused that because we believed he had to prove that he was fair dinkum about some of that stuff he was saying.

“I think without having that NRL carrot dangled in front of him, he’s knuckled down and trained well at the Pride.

“He is pretty passionate about having one more crack in the NRL.”

Todd Carney last played in the NRL for the Sharks.

Former Cowboys winger Williams hopes the NRL gives Carney the green light.

“I wouldn’t stand in his way,” he said. “It would be a positive step for Todd. He has been outstanding in his time with us at the Pride.

“I’m assuming the Cowboys are looking to get the tick of approval from the NRL and if they do that, they will put something together in the next day or two.”