NRL: Carney was drinking, Roosters boss admits

Anthony Watts. Photo / Getty Images

Sydney Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce admits it's common knowledge that Todd Carney was drinking on Saturday night - but refuses to speculate about the troubled NRL star's future with the club.

Carney and teammate Anthony Watts watched the Roosters' 24-6 loss to Brisbane on Friday while out in Coogee after requesting the night off while sidelined with injury.

The playing careers of both players are now in jeopardy after the night out ended in Watts being arrested for allegedly assaulting his former partner.

Noyce on Sunday said the club would conduct a probe into the incident over the next 48 hours and deliver the results to the NRL but was unsure whether or not Carney had been drinking.

However, on Monday morning Noyce conceded it was a well known fact that Carney, who has previously admitted a problem with drinking, had consumed alcohol while with Watts at the Trademark Hotel in Kings Cross on Saturday night.

"I think people know that that's a fact, but it's not up to me to go further with that," Noyce told Sky Sports Radio.

"Todd is big personality and people see him out so I think you know the answer to that."

Carney was recently put on a good behaviour bond following his arrest for drink-driving and has a history of off-field misdemeanors, that led to his sacking by Canberra in 2008 and the Raiders banning from his home town of Goulburn.

Following the recent arrest Carney admitted he had an alcohol problem and was doing all he could to overcome it, including joining Alcoholics Anonymous.

Carney also told club officials and NRL boss David Gallop he would refrain from drinking after the incident but broke that pledge on Saturday night.

Noyce on Monday again said he was disappointed that Carney had found himself in trouble yet again.

"I'm only human, of course I'm disappointed, but I don't think that's really relevant," Noyce said.

"We're a big family here at the Roosters and occasionally in all families there will be hiccups."

However, Noyce said it was important to distance Carney from the Watts incident.

"I think we also need to be very careful that Todd and Anthony were together, but there was no suggestion that Todd has had anything to do with the legal proceedings that Anthony is facing."

- AAP