The Brisbane Broncos team received a visit from former football bad boy Todd Carney on Monday, who stopped by the club to speak to the group of players about the consequences of making bad decisions.
New boss Michael Maguire is taking steps to improve the culture at the club since succeeding former manager Kevin Walters this summer.
Carney, 38, has been involved in a number of controversial off-field incidents in the past, having been charged with drink-driving and reckless driving. The NSW State of Origin star is also alleged to have urinated on a man in a nightclub, but was subsequently sacked by the Canberra Raiders in 2008.
Despite that, the football great has subsequently turned things around, recently taking on a new coaching role with the Gold Coast Titans and has been sober since last year. Upon taking up his new role, Carney revealed there was a possibility he could speak at all 17 NRL clubs.
He claimed in a recent interview with The Daily Telegraph that giving up alcohol has had a “transformative” impact on his life.
Carney was later cheered on by Payne Haas, who said it was “pretty cool” to have the Dally M winner come and address his team on Monday.
Todd Carney has given a talk to the group of Brisbane Bronco players and has delivered several messages to the team.
Carney returned to the NRL this December, having taken on a new role as a player career coach, which would see him visit clubs around the league giving talks.
Payne Haas said it was “really cool” to have Carney come and talk to the team, adding that his messages had resonated with the team.
Haas said he and the Broncos’ playing staff resonated with the messages Carney delivered, one of which included “thinking about your decision before you make it.”
“It could really affect your career,” Haas said. ‘It is a privilege to be in the position we are in. Little things can turn into big things.
The Broncos prop has been involved in some off-field trouble in the past, with the NRL fining him $50,000 and suspending him for three matches in 2021 for verbally abusing a group of police officers.
The 25-year-old personally visited authorities after the event to apologize and subsequently volunteered to help with youth programs in the area.
‘I followed Toddy’s career. I used to love him as a player and seeing the man he is now is great.
‘He has been through many things and experiences that he shared with us. We are young players and he was also young at that time.
“He was simply sharing his experiences and what we should keep in mind.”
Broncos fifth-eighth forward Ezra Mam will appear in court Dec. 16 after police charged him with driving under the influence when he allegedly failed a roadside drug test following a traffic incident in October.
Haas (centre) said: ‘He has been through a lot of things and experiences that he shared with us. We are young players and he was also young at that time.’
New Broncos boss Michael Maguire has been working hard to get his stars up and running following their arrival at the club this summer.
The 21-year-old is unlikely to feature at Red Hill until 2025.
Meanwhile, Maguire has been putting the Broncos cohort through their paces in pre-season training, and footage has emerged showing some of the brutal fitness plans the team has been going through.
This year they will look to bounce back from their dismal 12th place finish in the NRL, and Haas said his team is “embracing” the changes at the club.
“We are a young group and we are just men, honest and direct with each other,” he said.
“That’s what we took away this preseason and all the guys are buying it and having a great time.”
‘I know what Madge (Maguire) is all about, especially having him at Origin. I know what he brings to the table and what he expects from us players, which has made the transition easier. “I’ve already been through three coaches, so I’m used to everything.”
Despite claiming things had gone well with Maguire, Haas, who had been close to Broncos legend Walters, added that it was difficult to see the former manager leaving the club this summer.
“Obviously, it was difficult at the time (when Walters was fired), but we can’t think about it now,” he said.
The Broncos are looking to bounce back from a troubled 2024 season, which saw them drop to 12th on the NRL ladder.
‘Now we have Madge and I am enjoying my time with Madge. I have a lot of love for Kevvie and he knows it, but you can’t really hold on to the past. You have to keep moving and be present.”
Haas also gave his verdict on what the Broncos have to do to get back to the Football Finals.
‘Just being consistent. “We started well (in 2024), but we went down at the end and during the Origin period,” Haas said.
‘It’s a mental game, football. When our bodies hurt we have to keep showing up every week.’