Carney's mate hoses down burning issue

Todd Carney's mate, who was treated in hospital for burns on New Year's Day after what the troubled Sydney Roosters star claims was a practical joke gone wrong, has leapt to the defence of the 23-year-old playmaker. Brad Smith, who was celebrating the end of last year with Carney and other friends at Airlie Beach when he was set alight and received burns to his buttocks, yesterday issued a statement to Channel Nine to put an end to the issue that has sparked questions about whether the former representative star has reformed himself after being sacked by the Raiders in 2008. "I just want to set the record straight about the media reporting going on," Smith said. "I was away at Airlie Beach with a few mates including Todd. We were all performing pranks and mucking about and in the process I received a burn to my backside. While a bit painful it was nowhere near as severe as has been reported and I hold no grudge against Todd or any of my other mates. This has been blown way out of proportion." Roosters officials are due to provide the NRL with a report on their investigations into the incident but Carney is unlikely to face any action from the club.

Carney in hot water over prank gone wrong

The NRL will await a report from Sydney Roosters officials before considering whether any action is warranted against Todd Carney over what the troubled playmaker claims was a New Year's Eve prank gone wrong. Carney, who was sacked by Canberra in 2007 over a series of off-field incidents and spent last season playing in Cairns, is alleged to have been involved in an incident that resulted in a man being admitted to Proserpine Hospital last Friday with burns to his buttocks. The former Country Origin five-eighth spent New Year's Eve in Airlie Beach with a group of mates, and is understood to have told Roosters officials the victim was a friend. He also insists there was no malice intended, and the incident was a prank that went wrong. Queensland Police are aware of the incident but told Channel Seven they would not investigate unless a formal complaint was lodged. Roosters officials are investigating but are unlikely to take action against Carney unless he is charged by police or more serious allegations of misbehaviour emerge but will report to the NRL.