REPORTS coming out of the UK say Todd Carney will captain Catalan Dragons in 2015 after his move to the French club was confirmed overnight.
The BBC website is reporting Carney will skipper the side, assuming his three-year contract is ratified by the Rugby Football League.
The leadership position would come as a massive surprise given Carney has been sacked by three NRL clubs for alcohol-related incidents and is currently unable to get an NRL contract registered because he is seen as too great a risk to the image of the game in Australia.
Catalans chief executive Christophe Jouffret has done several interviews about Carney and has been effusive in his support for the NRL star each time.
“We are now waiting for the green light of the RFL who will, I’m sure, register Todd’s license,” Jouffret was quoted by the BBC.
“The Catalan Dragons Board is committed to support Todd Carney in his new life, far away from the media pressure he had in Sydney.”
The Catalans deal is viewed by many as Carney’s last opportunity at the top level after squandering two chances at redemption in the NRL.
Jouffret cited the turnaround in former bad boy Greg Bird’s career, starting with a stint in France, as an example of the Super League’s ability to rehabilitate fallen stars.
“Greg Bird, who now plays in the NRL and for Australia, resurrected his career during a 12-month spell in the south of France, and became, after his time here, the brilliant player he is now,” added Jouffret.
“I’m sure Todd will seize this great opportunity to show the great player he is.”
A string of off-field incidents — including his infamous “bubbling” stunt — proved too much for the NRL and his club Cronulla, who sacked Carney earlier this season when a photo emerged of the star five-eighth urinating in his mouth at a Cronulla nightclub.
Carney played for three clubs in the NRL — Canberra, Sydney Roosters and the Sharks — and was twice deregistered by the league.
“We are delighted that this great player courted by other Super League clubs and clubs in the Top 14 [rugby union competition, in France], has finally decided to come settle down at Perpignan,” Dragons president Bernard Guasch told the team’s official website.
“I wanted to tell our fans of the arrival of an international star for the 10th anniversary of the Dragons in the Super League and the arrival of Todd Carney is a great news for the club.”
Dragons general manager Christophe Jouffret added: “The class of a player who was voted best NRL player will benefit the entire Super League and I am confident that the RFL [Rugby Football League] will appreciate this new talented player in our competition.”
On Tuesday it was revealed the Catalans Dragons were facing competition from rugby union for the signature of Carney.
Carney, who played three State of Origin games for New South Wales in 2012 and made his Test debut in 2010, came close to moving to Super League in 2008 when he signed a 12-month deal to join Huddersfield but the move fell through when he was denied a visa.
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