Carney's future still uncertain

AAP & rugbyleaguelive.com | 27/08/08 | 0

Todd Carney's manager insists the disgraced NRL star is yet to sign with a Super League club despite separate reports today suggesting he had done deals with Huddersfield and Wigan.
   
Carney, who was de-registered by the NRL for 2009 after his sacking by Canberra, is on the verge of accepting a deal to play in England next season.
   
A report today claimed Carney was poised to announce he was joining Huddersfield while another said he had signed a one-year deal with Wigan.
   
But Carney's manager David Riolo insisted the 22-year-old was yet to decide on his future, with four clubs still in the market for his signature.
   
"He definitely hasn't signed or agreed anywhere," said Riolo, who is in Canberra to help Carney decide his future.
   
"I'm playing a completely straight bat with this one.
   
"It's not done yet and when it is announced it will be announced by the club.
   
"It could be a day or it could be a week.
   
"Once I help Todd decide where he wants to be, we'll get a deal done relatively quickly but we're not at the stage."
   
Carney is believed to be keen on a one-year deal in Super League, to pave the way for a return to the NRL in 2010.
 
NRL chief executive David Gallop has said the league would be willing to re-register Carney if he can prove he had moved on from his troubles.
   
The Raiders sacked the playmaker earlier this month following a series of off-field incidents.
   
Riolo would not confirm today whether Wigan or Huddersfield were among the clubs who had made offers for Carney.
   
He has also been linked with Castleford, Harlequins Rugby and new sides, the Celtic Crusaders and Salford City Reds.
   
A move to Wigan would see him form an unlikely partnership with former Parramatta halfback Tim Smith, who left the game earlier this year to deal with mental issues.
   
Smith also had a string of alcohol-related incidents in his time at the NRL.
   
Carney would also be seen as a ready-made replacement for Wigan's incumbent No.6 Trent Barrett, who will return to the NRL with Cronulla next season.
   
Meanwhile Brisbane's Greg Eastwood has joined the exodus of players to the UK after he was granted a release to take up a three-year deal with Leeds.
   
New Zealand international Eastwood will join the Rhinos as a replacement for Gareth Ellis, who will join Wests Tiger next year.
   
Manly lock Luke Williamson could be the next player to make a move to Super League with reports in England linking him with Harlequins.
   
In other news, former Bulldogs star Sonny Bill Williams scored on his French rugby union premiership debut as Toulon opened their Top 14 rugby championship with a 22-16 win over Clermont overnight.
   
The New Zealand international, who controversially walked out of the Bulldogs NRL club last month, crossed for one of Toulon's three tries.

He definitely hasn't signed or agreed anywhere... Carney's manager David Riolo