NRL: Roosters shouldn't be punished - Stuart

Roosters Todd Carney. Photo / Getty Images

NSW coach Ricky Stuart says if Todd Carney is sacked by the Sydney Roosters, rival NRL clubs shouldn't be allowed to pounce.

An announcement on Carney's immediate playing future will be made on Tuesday after he was caught drinking on the weekend despite earlier promises he wouldn't consume alcohol.

Strong action is expected to be taken against the serial offender, who was sacked by Canberra in 2008 and threw his career into jeopardy again a few weeks ago when he was arrested for drink driving and put on a strict rehabilitation plan.

Speaking on OneHD's One Week At A Time, Stuart said Roosters chairman Nick Politis would be "heartbroken" at Carney's latest breach of trust.

The former Cronulla coach was in charge of the Sharks when Greg Bird and Brett Seymour were sacked for misbehaviour, only to eventually be allowed to play for rival clubs the Gold Coast and Warriors respectively.

Stuart said the Roosters shouldn't be punished for Carney's mistakes.

"There would be a number of other coaches right now really monitoring this situation closely," said Stuart.

"That's why I believe the poor behaviour at one club shouldn't be another club's profit.

"There's got to be a process put in place. I've been in this position before at the Sharks where we sacked players for misdemeanours for poor behaviour but it doesn't do you any good because they just go to another club and they come back and bite you."

Stuart said Carney has put himself in a position where the Roosters don't have a lot of room to move.

The State of Origin mentor said making his Blues debut should be a long way from Carney's thinking at the present.

"He's got a lot more on his mind today than worrying about NSW. The big thing we've got to look at here is this bloke's welfare. He's got a major problem and it's really important we put his case first with his health and his alcohol problem," said Stuart.

"The first thing he has to do is make a huge apology to his club, Nick Politis and more importantly his team mates."

- AAP