NRL: Smith to snub Carney for rest of season

Roosters coach Brian Smith says he will not select Todd Carney (pictured) again this NRL season. Photo / Getty Images

With Todd Carney's Sydney Roosters career firmly in the balance, coach Brian Smith says he will not select the troubled Dally M Medallist again this NRL season.

As Carney spent his second straight week confined to the sidelines, the Roosters chalked up a second successive victory on Saturday, scoring three tries in the final eight minutes to beat Cronulla 36-25 in a dramatic clash at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The former Canberra playmaker was stood down by the club two weeks ago along with Nate Myles and Frank-Paul Nuuausala for breaking a team agreement about not drinking before the end of the season, after being photographed coming out of a Sydney hotel at 2am.

Nuuausala was a shock late inclusion to the Roosters side to face the Sharks, and played strongly coming off the bench, scoring a try late in the game.

However, there was no such reprieves for Carney and Myles who have been told to stay away from the club.

Kiwi international prop Nuuausala was allowed to return to training this week and Smith said he was pleased with his response to the punishment.

"Frankie had a kick in the tail and he deserved it and accepted it that he deserved it," Smith said.

"He worked hard at training this week and we thought coming off the bench this week was the appropriate way for him to return and play with his mates and he did a good job."

Myles, Carney and Nuuausala will face the club's board this week to answer breach notices issued to them, with Carney facing the genuine prospect of having his contract torn up following his third alcohol-related incident this year.

Carney has been linked with a move to France-based Super League side Catalans, with the NRL unlikely to sanction a move to another team in Australia should the Roosters terminate his career with the club.

A move to England is also out of the question with the British government rejecting his application for a work permit in 2008 so he could join Huddersfield after being axed by the Raiders.

But what's certain is that Carney or Myles, who will join the Gold Coast next season, won't be seen in Roosters colours again this year with the club's senior players believed to have lost patience with the serial offenders.

"They haven't been at training for the last couple of weeks, we are rolling along pretty nicely with that crew of guys, so I am not going to upset the applecart," Smith said.

"I think the circumstances for Frank we've dealt with and he came back and played a pretty good game for us tonight.

"So I would imagine he will hold his spot and we will keep this group of guys going next week."

- AAP