Cordner pleads for Carney NRL return

Roosters forward Boyd Cordner has urged the NRL to overturn Todd Carney's ban claiming his former teammate has been unfairly treated.

Cordner said the governing body's decision to de-register Carney's contract smacked of inconsistency with the code welcoming back a host of players banned for more serious offences than the infamous 'bubbler incident', which led to the former Cronulla star's sacking in 2014.

The Roosters vice-captain said Carney, who is now playing in the English Super League with French club Catalans Dragons, deserved another chance in the NRL.

"I 100 per cent think Todd should be re-registered," Cordner told The Daily Telegraph.

"With everything that has gone in the last 12 months and some of the incidents that have happened compared to what he has done, I think there are some inconsistencies there with the NRL.

"I definitely think Todd deserves another chance to come back, because he has been unfairly treated."

Cordner recently took to social media to express his dismay, sharing a Facebook post titled: "Todd Carney should be re-registered in the NRL".

The posting came as the NRL welcomed back convicted drug supplier Danny Wicks, who has signed with Parramatta, and Cordner's new Roosters teammate Blake Ferguson, who was banned for a year after being convicted for indecent assault.

The Kangaroos and NSW Origin backrower praised the way Carney accepted his punishment after he was sacked by Cronulla and de-registered by the NRL last year following the release of photo showing the five-eight committing a vulgar act in a public toilet.

"It must have been hard for Todd," he said.

"For it all to just blow up like it did and for him to move on as quickly as he did to the other side of the world, I think he has handled it pretty well.

"It just shows what type of man he is."

Cordner insisted Carney, a former housemate, was a different person to the man, whose public persona had been trashed.

"I’ve got to know him as a person and bloke and not as the perception of Todd Carney," he said.

"I think the public’s perception of him is a bit different to what he is actually like as a bloke.

"He is a caring guy and it’s a bit upsetting to see what has happened to him, but everything happens for a reason and I’m sure he is going to do well over there and I’d love to see him back in the NRL as soon as possible, because he deserves to be here."