Raiders in Carney Cover-Up

[Foordy]

CANBERRA stand accused of instigating an incredible cover-up that led to a player lying to police to save star half-back Todd Carney from going to jail last year.

A sacked former player, Steve Irwin, has broken his silence to reveal his part in the cover-up that saved Carney's career.

Irwin was sacked last June after being a passenger in car with Carney driving in a high-speed police pursuit in Canberra.

He later told police that Carney, whose licence was suspended at the time, had not been drinking before he fled the scene.

Carney was later charged with driving with a suspended licence, but Irwin's lie saved Carney from the more serious charge of driving under the influence.

"They (Canberra officials) asked me to say he wasn't pissed and that would keep him out of jail," Irwin said.

He was told to lie to police by saying he asked Carney - who had his licence suspended - to drive home after a night out.

More seriously, Irwin alleged Canberra asked him to tell police Carney was not drunk - claims which could force police to reopen their investigation.

Canberra have vehemently and angrily denied the allegations.

"Canberra told me that I had to say to police that I asked Todd to drive. That was so he would only be charged with being unlicensed and wouldn't go to jail.

"I was worried about Todd going to jail. They asked me to say he wasn't pissed and that would keep him out of jail. Todd was begging me not to go to jail.

"He was sending text messages saying we have to stick to our story.

"They said to say he hadn't been drinking. They were going to deduct me a day's pay for drinking while injured. That was all.

"Three days later I was in a cafe being sacked. I lost a contract worth $80,000. The only option Canberra gave me was to play for (feeder club) Souths Logan."

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 14,00.html

If this is true i can't believe they sacked Irwin. Actually at the time before even rading about this claim, i thought that it was a clear case of double standards for a star player.

Carney's actions at the time were far more serious that those of Irwin's ( who was only drinking while injured against club rules) while Carney leads police on a chase through Canberra and nothing really happens to him, Canberra will need to be careful or they will be come a joke and a club full of trouble makers.

 

[Coxy]

Take this with a MASSIVE grain of salt. Irwin has only a teensy bit of an axe to grind doesn't he!

However, there are rumours that in this latest incident, the guy Carney is alleged to have pissed on is a mate of a Canberra player...and he's been convinced to withdraw his claim.

 

[Emma]

I agree that it was a massive double standard for them to sack Irwin but keep Carney, but at the same time I can understand that Canberra had invested a lot in this kid and to cut him loose only to see him end up at another team wouldn't really be doing anyone any favours I don't think.

I don't believe Irwin - I just can't see a club telling someone to do that, then sacking him a couple of days later knowing full well how bitter the bloke would be and giving him something to use against them.

 

[Clintos]

There was that much pressure on the club they had to sack someone. Irwin was more expendable in this instance and we could well see the same thing happen to Goodwin this time.

 

[Coxy]

Agree Clintos, that's why he was sacked. But it makes NO SENSE for Canberra to have also pressured Irwin to lie to police. That's just suicide on their part.

I think there's ZERO truth to it.

 

[Clintos]

It's probably just a misquote that some journo has jumped all over. IF, and that's a big if, Canberra did tell Irwin to lie to police (the fact that Carney and Irwin were mates probably would have helped), it definatly was a stupid thing to go and sack him.

 

[mrslong]

1. Irwin is a low dog for traitoring his mate like this....whether it's true or not.
2. He has an axe to grind, he's been dumped by the club & also by Wynnum...Clintos is right, why would they sack him.
3. Canberra probably shouldn't have covered it up if it's true.

 

[bianc]

I don't think that Irwin is a low dog for telling this about Carney. If it is true...
IF if is true then why the hell should he sit back and see yet again another guy drop charges against Carney so that he can stay on at the Raiders and yet he being a nobody gets shafted.

Also I did read that if they sacked Carney the NRL wouldn't permit him to play for another club.
Keeps getting chances and he is not going to get improve his attitude nor his drinking problems.Canberra need to show some guts and get rid of the bloke and stop treating him like a piece of meat.

 

[Jeza23]

I agree with Clintos on this matter, I think Goodwin is going to cop it for this escapade too. I expect him to lose his contract.

I dont expect anything major to happen to Carney, except miss a few games which may determine whether they make the top 8 or not. If they get on a losing streak they will bring him back I have no doubt about that! If they make the finals without him, they will definitely need to bring him back then.

Personally I think he's had too many chances, as good a player as he is he needs a big kick up the but and someone to help his attitude!

 

[Coxy]

Anyone else shocked that Andrew Johns came out in support of the boozy little leg pisser?

 

[Foordy]

Anyone else shocked that Andrew Johns came out in support of the boozy little leg pisser?

i didn't know he did. but it doesn't surprise me in the least that Joey "Druggo" Johns is supporting Carney

 

[Coxy]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 14,00.html

 

[mrslong]

Yeah I wanted to vomit when I read that. He may as well have added a paragraph about perhaps Canberra covering up these antics too.

 

[gUt]

Pretty unfortunate timing for the fawning piece on Carney in the RLW this week. He's just a lovable country kid apparently.

 

[Coxy]

and all he did was piss on a guy. Who hasn't? Oh yeah, me.

 

[Kaz]

Anyone else shocked that Andrew Johns came out in support of the boozy little leg pisser?

Nope

He supports all the drunks & druggos.

 

[Coxy]

Kaz, I'd like to introduce you to my little friend here. Sarcasm, meet Kaz. Kaz, meet Sarcasm.

 

[Dexter]

I'd love to know how every incident gets reported straight to the media, things like this as degrading as they are for the pissee should just be sorted on the spot and left there.

Times have changed I suppose but some of the things we as a club got up to in the 80s/90s were rediculous but never went anywhere and the players involved were certainly high profile enough.

On 1 trip away the local coppers horse was borrowed and bought a beer inside a public bar the horse was downing the beer at the bar when the copper found him.

A players room was filled with chooks because he went to sleep early. There was chook shit everywhere in the morning.

2 players totally stripped in a nightclub on the dance floor, the locals just went along with it, then another player hosed them across the room with the fire hose.

This was all in the same 2 day period and are only the things that hapenned publicly.