The South Sydney Rabbitohs have told the North Sydney Bears in no uncertain terms that exiled star Todd Carney will not find his way back into the NRL via the Rabbitohs.
After Carney was released from the Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup citing family reasons to head back home, the Bears are looming as a potential destination for the 31-year-old.
However, the Rabbitohs have told their feeder club he will not be considered by South Sydney for a spot on the NRL list.
"We've spoken to Norths about Todd Carney and it's our position that we will develop our young halves as opposed to bringing in a player from outside the Club in this instance," South Sydney's General Manager of Football Shane Richardson said in a statement on rabbitohs.com.au.
"Players such as Adam Doueihi, Connor Tracey and Dean Hawkins are all excellent young players who we see as future players in the NRL and our efforts will be concentrated on them.
"'The Rabbitoh Way' is to build a culture that rewards young players for hard work, a culture that has respect for the Club and its people, respects the Members and sponsors that invest financially and emotionally into what we are doing here at South Sydney, and a culture of developing young players that want to play for South Sydney and that we see having a future NRL career.
"We intend to do that with the players we have here at the Club and our players, coaches and staff are all on board with this approach."
Carney's last game in the NRL was in round 16, 2014 with the Cronulla Sharks.