National Rugby League Effectively Bans Former Cronulla Player Carney After Latest Incident

The National Rugby League has "effectively banned Todd Carney for life," according to Stuart Honeysett of THE AUSTRALIAN. The decision comes after "three sackings and countless other alcohol-related incidents." Having "already lost his multi-million dollar contract at Cronulla after a photograph was published on social media of him indulging in a lewd act at a pub urinal," the NRL issued a "strongly worded statement" which suggested Carney had "no future in the competition." NRL COO Jim Doyle said on Monday that he would be surprised if "any club would show interest in signing him considering his chequered history and even if they did it was 'unlikely' the NRL would agree to register him." Carney on Monday apologized for his actions -- "he was photographed attempting to urinate into his mouth at Northies Hotel in Cronulla over a week ago -- before adding he hoped it wouldn't end his career." Carney: "I just hope that this isn't the end of me as a footballer" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/1).