NRL: Sharks coach says new club is last chance for Carney

Todd Carney. Photo / Getty Images

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan claims controversial new signing Todd Carney has been made fully aware the Sharks are his last chance of hanging on to an NRL career.

Carney yesterday accepted a two-year deal with the Sharks rumoured to be worth A$700,000 ($910,000), with NRL boss David Gallop giving the move his blessing after a meeting with the troubled star.

Gallop sought assurances from Carney that his off-field dramas were a thing of the past, following his sacking by the Sydney Roosters in September when they finally ran out of patience after he broke a team alcohol ban.

The Roosters had been viewed as Carney's final opportunity in the NRL after he was shown the door by Canberra in 2008 following a string of misdemeanours.

But Flanagan said the 25-year-old understood there would be no coming back if he went off track at the Sharks, although the coach added that the former test representative would start with a clean slate.

"Todd is very, very aware, with various meetings with myself, his manager David Riolo, his family - who have been very supportive - and even with the NRL today, of where he stands and the consequences he faces if he doesn't fulfil his commitments as an NRL player," Flanagan said.

"It's his last chance from the NRL's point of view. We'll assess what he does here in his time at the Sharks - he starts fresh today with us. All that stuff that's gone on before, it is history and we've got to deal with it and assess it, but we start fresh today."

Gallop said he was encouraged by Carney's commitment to getting his career back on track, and was hopeful the 2010 Dally M medallist could return to playing with the type of form that had him ranked among the game's best players less than a year ago.

"[Cronulla are] making a big investment in him, the game is making a big investment in him, he needs to take responsibility for that," Gallop said.

"Today was about encouraging him to take that opportunity.

"He's excited about being in an NRL club again and playing footy again, he needs to focus on that and avoid risky situations, and I think he understands that as well."

Carney is expected to join teammates at an induction day at the club next week before starting pre-season training on November 7.

- AAP