NRL: Carney wanted to join Cronulla Sharks - Gallen

Todd Carney. Photo / Getty Images

Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen has rubbished suggestions Todd Carney had nowhere else to go, saying the former Dally M medallist wanted to become a Shark.

Cronulla's decision to sign Carney, who has been sacked by two other clubs, to a two-year deal has been portrayed as the desperate act of a struggling club.

But Gallen is adamant the 25-year-old has bought into the Sharks' belief they can improve on three seasons with no finals action.

"The most exciting thing for us is that he wanted to come and play for us, there were reports that there were no offers on the table which were not true," Gallen said.

"Todd wanted to come to us, it wasn't like he had no one else, and that is a great thing for us as a club."

Carney's arrival was largely down to Sharks great Gavin Miller, who has links with his family.

Gallen said there was no need for him or Miller to mentor Carney to keep him on the straight and narrow.

"It's got a bit out of hand, at the end of the day he is a 25-year-old bloke and we are going to treat him like everyone else at the club.

"I've spoken to [coach] Shane Flanagan and [football manager] Darren Mooney and we're not going to have any special rules, he's the same as all the other players.

"I just hope the rest of the world treats him the same as everyone else."

Carney has previously been shown the door by Canberra and the Sydney Roosters, but Gallen believes the controversy surrounding his off-field dramas has been over the top.

"I know he's had a few chances, but when you look at what he has done recently he hasn't done too much wrong in terms of general society.

"He did a few things wrong when he was younger, but you haven't seen him going out beating up women or fighting people and it's good that he's playing now for us."

- AAP