After years of misbehaviour including run-ins with police, "shocked and shattered" NRL halfback Todd Carney has been sacked.
The Canberra star's final miscalculation came last Saturday night when he was ejected from a Goulburn club after a verbal altercation with another patron.
The Country half had already been suspended indefinitely by the club after a complaint that he had urinated on a person while out drinking at Canberra pub All Bar Nun.
While that complaint was withdrawn, the aura of poor behaviour clung to the 22-year-old, partly because of his involvement in a 2007 police chase and the subsequent 200 hours of community service he was ordered to undertake.
Raiders chief executive Don Furner announced Carney's dismissal today.
"The board decided they had had enough," Furner told reporters.
"The board met and discussed Todd with his manager and Todd was granted his request to put his case to the board.
"Regrettably they (the board) chose to terminate his contract."
The NRL then followed through with their threat to deregister the wayward playmaker, chief executive David Gallop saying no contract with Carney's name on it would be registered for the 2009 season.
"This isn't a situation where we could allow another club to benefit by gaining access to Todd's services next season," Gallop said in a statement.
"It's hard to imagine how such an outcome would benefit the player or the game.
"If Todd can address his issues, and support services will remain available to him to do so through our counselling and welfare programs, then we would reassess his position for the 2010 season."
A grim faced, pin-stripe suited Carney then fronted reporters with his manager David Riolo.
"I'm not happy with the outcome," Riolo said before admitting Carney needed to understand the consequences of his behaviour.
"I'm disappointed for Todd but there were circumstances that have happened and Todd's got to realise and understand as well that he has been involved in some incidents."
Carney let Riolo do most of the talking but admitted it was a tough decision to accept.
"I'm pretty shocked and shattered," Carney said.
"I guess I didn't know that was going to be the outcome today and now I know I just have to stay on my feet and work out where my future lies now."
