He's struggled to get out of first gear all season and now Sydney Roosters five-eighth Todd Carney has been given the weekend off to ensure he's back to his best for the Anzac Day blockbuster against premiers St George Illawarra.
Carney will miss Saturday night's meeting with Brisbane at Bluetongue
Stadium after re-injuring the groin for which he underwent surgery during the off-season.
The injury cruelled Carney's pre-season and kept him out of the club's round one win over South Sydney, Roosters coach Brian Smith conceding the Dally M medal winner's body hasn't allowed him the opportunity to repeat last year's heroics.
"He's been very limited in what he's done in preparation for this season - he's had some good moments but I don't think he's actually hit his best," Smith said.
"But he will when he gets some good preparation under his belt and some more games.
"He had a little niggle in his groin last week against the Warriors so we've given him this week off to get him right for that Anzac Day game - there's a long turnaround for us with that one."
While Carney will no doubt benefit from the 16-day layoff between the game against the Warriors and the grand final re-match with the Dragons, there's little doubt his injury-disrupted start to the year has been a source of great frustration.
Tipped by many as the NSW Origin side's long-term solution at five-eighth, Carney will have just three more games to prove his worth to state selectors as he looks to snare a first sky blue jumper.
Smith said Carney appreciated what he needed to do to get back to his best and believed fans would show patience with the skilful playmaker.
"He understands that he needs to get some more training in and more games to expect to be at his best," Smith said.
"I think any fans out there that have got any reasonableness about them would understand that."
Skipper Braith Anasta will switch from second row to five-eighth with Tom Symonds coming off an extended bench to join Frank-Paul Nuuasala and Nate Myles in the backrow.
- AAP
