Carney wins Australia's Dally M Medal September 08, 2010
Sydney Roosters standoff Todd Carney won the Australian National Rugby League's Dally M Medal on Tuesday as the player of the season.
Reformed bad boy Carney polled 27 votes to win the award by a point from Wests Tigers hooker and skipper Robbie Farah with another point to St George Illawarra Dragons' fullback Darius Boyd in third place.
The award capped off a remarkable return to the NRL for Carney, who spent the 2009 season rebuilding his life and career after drink problems by playing district football in the small North Queensland town of Atherton.
Carney was sacked by the Canberra Raiders in 2008 after a number of off-field indiscretions led to him being banned from his home town for a year and given a one-year suspension from playing in the NRL.
Carney, 24, has been an integral part of a Roosters side who have gone from wooden spooners in 2009 to NRL finalists this season under coach Brian Smith.
"Smithy told me when I came in (started at the club) if I was not heading in his direction to head out of the door," Carney said at the presentation.
"I sat up and listened and I owe a lot of this award to him."
Former Wigan coach Smith was awarded the NRL coach of the year at the same presentation.
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