NRL star Todd Carney says he’s kissed other players during his footy career

Todd Carney was known as one of the ‘bad boys’ of rugby league during his NRL career from 2004 to 2014.

And in this week’s episode of ABC’s You Can’t Ask That, featuring former NRL and AFL stars, the 34-year-old gave fans a rare insight into his life playing the game.

You Can’t Ask That involves misunderstood or marginalised Australians answering the outrageous and uncomfortable questions most people are afraid to ask.

Todd, who played 229 games in his career, was asked why there were no openly gay footy players in Australia given all the physical contact on the field.

Speaking out: In this week’s episode of You Can’t Ask That, featuring former NRL and AFL stars, rugby league ‘bad boy’ Todd Carney gave fans a rare insight into his life playing the game 

He said male affection was commonplace on and off the field – but he never saw it as homoerotic.

‘The bum taps are just an excitement thing,’ he explained.

‘I’ve gave plenty of bum taps along the way and kissed my mates along the way on the field, and on the night out on the drink. I’ve probably gave blokes a bit too long of a kiss. But I’m definitely not gay,’ he added.

Elsewhere, the former Cronulla Sharks star discussed his infamous ‘bubbler’ incident that made headlines in 2014. 

At the time, he was sacked mid-season by the Sharks and had his $3million contract torn up after an image of him urinating in his own mouth at a Sydney pub went viral.

'I've probably gave blokes a bit too long of a kiss': Todd, who played 229 games in his career, was asked why there were no openly gay footy players given all the physical contact on the field. He said male affection was commonplace, but he never saw it as homoerotic

‘I’ve probably gave blokes a bit too long of a kiss’: Todd, who played 229 games in his career, was asked why there were no openly gay footy players given all the physical contact on the field. He said male affection was commonplace, but he never saw it as homoerotic

 

Hard-hitting question: Elsewhere, the former Cronulla Sharks star discussed his infamous 'bubbler' incident that made headlines in 2014

Hard-hitting question: Elsewhere, the former Cronulla Sharks star discussed his infamous ‘bubbler’ incident that made headlines in 2014

He was made to answer if he had ‘p**sed in his own mouth’ to which he replied: ‘Well, it’s an optical illusion. That’s what the bubbler is, isn’t it?’

‘And I’m not gonna lie and say that was the only time I’ve done it, otherwise I wouldn’t have know I could do it.’

The Dally M Medal winner also said on the program: ‘Yes, I’ve done some stupid things in the past but that was always the headline – “bad boy of rugby league”. 

Infamous: He was made to answer if he had 'p**sed in his own mouth' to which he replied: 'Well, it's an optical illusion. That's what the bubbler is, isn't it?' Pictured: the infamous bubbler photo

Infamous: He was made to answer if he had ‘p**sed in his own mouth’ to which he replied: ‘Well, it’s an optical illusion. That’s what the bubbler is, isn’t it?’ Pictured: the infamous bubbler photo

‘Stupid, yes, but bad – not really.’ 

Former NRL star Ian Roberts defended Todd over the incident, saying: ‘Yes the photo was obviously not a good thing.’

‘But he’s not the villain people think he is… I really felt for him. He got crucified,’ he added, referring to the blitz of negative headlines at the time.

Support: Former NRL star Ian Roberts defended Todd over the incident, saying: 'Yes the photo was obviously not a good thing, but he's not the villain people think he is... I really felt for him'

Support: Former NRL star Ian Roberts defended Todd over the incident, saying: ‘Yes the photo was obviously not a good thing, but he’s not the villain people think he is… I really felt for him’

Former Canterbury Bulldogs player Willie Mason also defended Todd, saying his behaviour off-field did not compare to players who have a history of violence against women.

He said: ‘I see some pieces of s**t playing our game right now.’

‘Todd Carney, on the other hand, just p**sed in his own mouth and got his contract ripped up, and I don’t think that’s fair.’

Unfair: Former Canterbury Bulldogs player Willie Mason also defended Todd, saying his behaviour off-field did not compare to players who have a history of violence against women

Unfair: Former Canterbury Bulldogs player Willie Mason also defended Todd, saying his behaviour off-field did not compare to players who have a history of violence against women

After his NRL career ended, Todd spent two seasons with France’s Super League club Catalans Dragons with stints in the UK with the Salford Red Devils and Hull Kingston Rovers.

Todd has played three Origin games for NSW and represented Australia once.

After marking his NRL debut with Canberra in 2004, he was sacked by the Raiders in 2008 after a nightclub incident in which he was accused of urinating on another patron.

In 2011 he was let go by the Roosters after a year for breaking an alcohol ban, one year after winning the Dally M medal and guiding the Roosters to the NRL grand final.

During his time with the NRL, Todd was charged three times with drink driving.

He was captain-coach of Group 10 rugby league Byron Bay Red Devils on the NSW far north coast in 2019 but has since retired. 

Life after the game: Since leaving NRL, Todd has found love with former Married At First Sight star Susie Bradley. The couple became engaged in October 2020

Life after the game: Since leaving NRL, Todd has found love with former Married At First Sight star Susie Bradley. The couple became engaged in October 2020

First-time father: The pair also welcomed a son named Lion Daryl Carney on March 27

First-time father: The pair also welcomed a son named Lion Daryl Carney on March 27

Now working as a concreter and living in Queensland with his partner, former MAFS star Susie Bradley, the 2010 Dally M winner says while he’s not proud about his ‘stupidity’, he can laugh about it now.

‘It [the bubbler incident] made me who I am now and made me a more resilient person and comfortable with who I am,’ Carney told the Sunday Telegraph in September 2020.

‘I’ve got a tattoo that says “everything happens for a reason”. I believe it does.

‘Yes I hurt fans, organisations and the businesses I was playing for but, deep down, the person I hurt most was myself.’

Todd recently welcomed his first son, named Lion Daryl Carney. He is also a stepfather to Susie’s daughter from a previous relationship. 

Blended family: Todd is a stepfather to Susie's daughter from a previous relationship

Blended family: Todd is a stepfather to Susie’s daughter from a previous relationship