'I don't take NSW for granted'

Work to do ... Todd Carney doesn't take his NSW jersey for granted. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Todd Carney has admitted he doesn't deserve to hold onto his NSW No.6 jersey just because he's the incumbent, in an exclusive interview on Sterlo.

Speaking about the upcoming series in a one-on-one with legendery Blues halfback Peter Sterling, Carney understands he needs to make an irresistable case with his next three NRL games to get a crack at his second straight series.

NSW coach Laurie Daley has admitted five-eighth is one of just two positions still up for grabs as he nails down selection for game one.

In a three-way battle with James Maloney and John Sutton, Carney said he took no notice of the old adage that incumbency takes precedence in rep games.

"No I don't look at that," Carney said. "Obviously I've said that I want to be there and I feel I've learnt from the experience of last year and feel that I'm a better player than last year.

"There's a lot of No.6's playing really good football. Being coached by Laurie before I know how he coaches and I know what he expects.

"So just because I was there last year doesn't mean I deserve the No.6 and it's well documented that players have put their hands up."

Uncapped at Origin level, popular opinion has swayed towards Roosters five-eighth Maloney to be given first crack this series, with his successful partnership with certain No.7 Mitchell Pearce a major reason why.

But while combinations can't be overlooked, Carney believes experience in the unique cauldron of an Origin arena is also something that should be taken into account.

The feeling that he was "a bit of a passenger" in game one last year is explanation enough as to why.

"I felt in the first game I was a bit of a passenger," Carney said. "I didn't play to my game. I got picked because of the way I was playing and I didn't bring that into the Origin environment.

"I feel like in the second game I did. I thought I took my opportunities when I had the chance to.

"And game three was just up and down the field. It was just one end to the other.

"And as I look back, we fell short by one point - a 45 metre field goal from Cooper Cronk was the reason they won it.

"Definitely experience is always going to help. Being there in the environment, you've been there and done it.

"That's why I feel like I can give a whole lot more this year."

While Carney may miss out to Maloney or Sutton, he believes it's possible that in the future he could be partnering one of them at Origin level as he eyes a return to the No.7 jersey he wore when he first made a splash on the NRL scene with Canberra.

Although he acknowledges his running game as his number one strength at this stage in his career, Carney believes his ability to run and organise the game is improving, which could ultimately give him the opportunity to move back to halfback.

"I feel like at stages I'm in the game and knowing when to sit back and reassess the game and also getting back into the game," he said.

"I've spoken to people about how I do that and they feel for me I should take a carry or drop someone under and then that next play take a carry and it puts me straight back into the game.

"So I feel trying to finish a game and also win a game is one thing I'm going to continue to work on.

"And I feel if I can do that in the back end of my career I can maybe move into a seven role instead of a six.

"And I feel if I can do that I can play till I'm much older and I might be a bit slower.

"So definitely learning the game and just controlling the game and getting better each week (are things I'm trying to improve on)." 

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