Todd Carney to send feathers flying at Roosters
March 26th 2009 05:53
Former Canberra Raiders player Todd Carney seems to be on the verge of signing a four year NRL contract with the Sydney Roosters starting in 2010. Despite the interest displayed by the Roosters, is it really worthwhile for the chooks to chase Carney's signature?
Do not get me wrong, Carney is a terrific rugby league halfback who was undoubtedly the linchpin for most of the Raiders attacking exploits in season 2008.
Carney had the football on a string at times last season, kicking numerous 40/20's to gift the Raiders attacking opportunities they often took with aplomb.
Indeed on his best form (and behaviour for that matter), Carney would become an integral part of a Roosters line-up that already counts with one of the most effective halves combinations in the NRL.
However, there are a few things the Roosters need to take into consideration before showing Carney the dotted line.
Although his off field record would present the biggest worry for the chooks, it is on the football pitch that Carney's signature will potentially present the most problems for Brad Fittler's men.
If Carney was to sign with the Bondi-Junction club for next season, the key combination of current Roosters halves Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce would be severely disrupted.
Carney would most likely play at five-eighth for the Roosters in 2010, prompting captain Anasta to assume a position at Lock.
Although Anasta would not mind the challenge of assuming a creative role locking the scrum, his former partner in crime Mitchell Pearce will have to pick up many pieces to form an effective partnership with Carney.
As the Roosters have experienced, forming a decent halves combination is easier said than done.
When current Roosters coach Fittler retired in 2004, he left the side with a gaping hole in regards to their playmaking capabilities.
It eventually took a frustrating four year period for the Roosters to re-develop a halves combination good enough to challenge for the finals.
Now that the Anasta-Pearce partnership has evolved enough to make the Roosters a force, it would be foolish for the club to undo their good work by throwing in a player of Carney's calibre into the works.
Not to mention Carney's contract would also force key Roosters players Anthony Minichiello and Setaimata Sa to leave the club due to salary cap restraints.
As for Carney himself, one feels he would be better off signing with the Penrith Panthers.
Unlike the Roosters, the Panthers are yet to develop an effective halves combination capable of stirring the club away from the bottom of the ladder.
The drought surrounding Penrith's halves would allow Carney to literally do as he pleased down at the foot of the mountains - a key ingredient if he is to rediscover his touch in the NRL.
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