Todd Carney re-signs with Cronulla

The Sharks five eighth Todd Carney has signed a new long term contract which will see him remain in Cronulla colours for the next five seasons.

Carney, who joined the club at the start of 2012, rejected lucrative offers from a number of other clubs to resign with the Sharks effective until the end of the 2018 season.

Ending weeks of speculation, Carney was relieved to finalise the new deal and was looking forward to what the future at the Sharks would bring.

“I’m happy to have made the decision to be staying at the Sharks and to be settled for the next five years. We have a strong playing group here and I’m excited to have the chance of working with them.”

As for Sharks Coach Shane Flanagan, he too was thrilled his star playmaker had agreed to remain at the club

“I was always confident Todd would stay but he was offered big money contracts at other clubs so we had to let the negotiation process run its course,” Flanagan said. “His decision is a great show of loyalty towards the club and is also an expression of faith in the long term future of the Sharks.”

Sharks General Manager of Football Steve Noyce was also pleased to have completed the negotiations and to have been able to secure Carney’s coveted signature on a Sharks NRL contract.

“Todd and his manager David Riolo had a big decision to make, we understand they had to test the market and we thank them for the professional manner in which the negotiations were conducted,” Noyce said.

The Dally M Player of the Year in 2010 and the NSW State of Origin five eighth in 2012, Carney’s signing is a huge boost to the future prospects of the Sharks.

Carney was instrumental in the Sharks push into the finals last season and after recovering from off-season Achilles surgery will again be crucial to his teams’ prospects this year.

The 26-year-old Carney began his NRL career back in 2004 and he has since played 142 NRL games, three State of Origin matches and one Test for Australia.

Carney’s signing should provide a boost to the Sharks ahead of their next assignment against the Wests Tigers tomorrow night.