Troubled former NRL star Todd Carney to sue Cronulla Sharks for $3m

Disgraced NRL star Todd Carney is suing the Cronulla Sharks for close to $3 million in what he calls a bid to protect fellow players.

The troubled former Australian playmaker was sacked by the NRL club in June last year after a lewd photo purporting to show him urinating in his own mouth emerged online.

Carney and his lawyers met with the Rugby League Players Association yesterday as he prepares to sue the club for unfair dismissal.

Earlier in the year he won a claim before the NRL Appeals Committee after he argued they denied him a chance to plead his case before the club board.

The former NSW State of Origin halfback said he learned of his sacking from teammate Wade Graham before being given the chance to give his side of the story.

"I feel I was harshly done by. Some people don't," Carney told 9NEWS.

"I want it to be cleaned up because I think one day the club might think back to what's happened to me and it might help another player."

Carney resumed his playing career in France with Super League club Catalans and last month signed a three-year contract extension.

However he did not rule out a return to Australia, saying he still got goosebumps watching the game.