Todd Carney warned twice before sacking

Troubled Cronulla Sharks player Todd Carney had two warnings about poor behaviour this year before the club sacked him over a lewd photo.

A picture posted on Twitter of Carney urinating in his mouth in the men's toilets at a Cronulla nightspot on Saturday night went viral at the weekend, with fans condemning the act.

Club bosses responded yesterday by rescinding the five-eighth's $650,000-a-year playing contract, which had three years left on it.

Carney has a well-known history of unsavoury off-field behaviour — and now it has been revealed the wayward star was confronted by club management twice this year over alcohol-related incidents, The Daily Telegraph reports.

In one case Carney reportedly had been with another man who was charged with assaulting two teenagers in a Cronulla shopping centre.

"Unfortunately Toddy can be a really lovely young bloke but he has well-documented issues with alcohol that have led to a number of problems," club chairman Damian Keogh was quoted as saying.

"We're trying to improve the club commercially and the culture is very important."

A statement issued by the club last night said Carney had failed to live up to the values and high standards demanded by the Sharks.

The club also pledged to offer "appropriate counselling and support" to Carney and his family.