Wests Tigers express interest in signing bad boy Todd Carney for 2010
December 13, 2008 WESTS Tigers have emerged as the NRL club to save the career of footy bad boy Todd Carney, who is preparing to challenge his deregistration from the game.
New Tigers boss Scott Longmuir confirmed on Friday night the joint-venture had sent an "expression of interest" to Carney's management for 2010.
But the former Raider - provisionally deregistered by the NRL after his mid-season sacking from Canberra - is ready to argue for a return next season should his visa to play in England be blocked.
The 22-year-old signed a handsome one-year deal with UK Super League club Huddersfield for 2009 after parting ways with the Green Machine in July.
But extensive delays with his English visa have left Carney stranded in Australia while his new team-mates started pre-season training on December 1.
Carney's agent David Riolo on Friday night confirmed interest from the Tigers and several other NRL clubs for 2010, but flagged an earlier return should the visa not be granted.
"Our first priority is for Todd to play in Huddersfield, where he has signed next year," Riolo said.
"But if he doesn't get his visa, then he can't work in England. If that were to be the case we'd certainly be willing to go back to the NRL to argue his case for registration in 2009.
"Todd is a professional footballer - this is his career."
Carney attended the funeral of his father Daryl in his home town of Goulburn on Friday, and was unavailable for comment. Riolo said the Tigers were one of several clubs to express interest in the Country Origin star.
"There have been initial discussions with the Tigers for 2010 and beyond," Riolo said.
Longmuir added: "There hasn't been a meeting, but we've put forward an expression of interest to see what Todd is doing for 2010 and beyond.
"We need to consider our halfback decision going forward at this stage.
"(Coach) Tim Sheens has talked about using Benji (Marshall) there, but we've got to look at all the options."
The Tigers are still in the process of trying to re-sign Marshall, who is off-contract at the end of next season and firmly in the sights of cashed-up European rugby clubs.
Longmuir refused to speculate on whether the club could afford to have both playmakers. "It's too early to comment on that, but we are hoping to have Benji's future sorted before the start of the season," he said.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23214,00.html
Looks like the tigers want a plan B in case benji and/or farrar leave the club come the end of 09 which is a very real prospect at the moment.