'Carney can be NRL sensation'
By Iain Payten
December 23, 2005
Great Britain winger Brian Carney (l) meets new Knights teammate Andrew Johns. The Irish flyer will play for the Knights before joining the Gold Coast Titans in 2007. Picture: Sam Ruttyn.
GREAT Britain winger Brian Carney will be a sensation in the NRL, according to the man who discovered the Irish flyer.
Carney touched down in Sydney yesterday and met his new Knights teammates later in the day in Newcastle, saying he is "very excited" about his future in Australia.
The ex-Wigan star, 29, will play for Newcastle in 2006 before joining the new Gold Coast Titans franchise in 2007.
"I'm just getting used to this warm weather and sun. We don't get much of either in Wigan," Carney said, still sporting the wounds of a mountain biking accident.
Souths chief executive Shane Richardson unearthed Carney in 1998 when, as boss of Gateshead, he heard about a 21-year-old Gaelic footballer starring for the Irish Universities league team.
"A bloke who worked for me said you've got to watch this tape. Brian scored three tries and showed great pace so we signed him," Richardson said.
Carney's Super League career took off and within three years he was playing for Great Britain.
Former Wigan teammate and good friend Matthew Johns rates Carney as "the best winger in the world".
And Richardson believes brother Andrew will ensure Carney shines for the Knights.
"Outside Andrew Johns and on the end of that backline, I believe he will be a sensation," Richardson said.
"But he is also such a quality human being and a classic, funny character, he will also bring a vitality to the game we've missed for a bit."
Carney was reluctantly released by Wigan to join the Knights.
"I have always wanted to play in the NRL and Matt used to tell me a lot about the Knights and the town so I jumped at the chance," Carney said.
"It's an incredible challenge and any league player would love to play with guys like Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus and Matt Gidley.
"The Knights are the verge of big things and it'd be great to part of a successful year, maybe win a grand final."
From http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17643895-23214,00.html
I have to say that it's a shame that Carney will only be with us one year, before he moves on to the Gold Coast, but at 29 we will at least be getting his best year in the NRL. There aren't many decent wingers on the wrong age of 30 running around in the NRL, Matt Sing is about the only one I can think of.
Carney was awesome in the Tri-Series, apart from Great Britain's first game against the Kiwis, I don't think I have ever seen a winger play a worse game!!!