http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...s-is-charged-with-assault-20110417-1djun.html
THE career of Sydney Roosters star Todd Carney is again in jeopardy after a night out that ended in teammate Anthony Watts being accused of assaulting his former partner.
There is no suggestion Carney was with Watts when the 24-year-old utility was arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. It is alleged Watts punched and repeatedly struck his ex-girlfriend, Shannon Kiss, in the back of the head at his Coogee apartment about 4am yesterday.
However, Roosters officials are investigating whether Carney had been drinking. He told magistrate Jacqueline Milledge just 10 days before, when he was sentenced on a drink-driving charge, that he had an alcohol problem and was doing all he could to overcome it.
Carney also told club officials and NRL boss David Gallop he would refrain from drinking after his latest arrest but it was feared last night that he had broken that pledge while with Watts at the Trademark Hotel in Kings Cross on Saturday night.
Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce confirmed Carney was with Watts but declined to say if the star five-eighth had been drinking.
Club insiders told the Herald they would be extremely disappointed if Carney had been drinking. They were prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt until evidence showed otherwise.
If Carney was in danger of going off the rails, it was hoped Milledge's threat to send the P-plater to jail for returning a blood-alcohol reading of 0.52 at 7am on February 28 after consuming ''eight to 10 beers'' the night before had scared him enough to keep him on the straight and narrow.
If not, he may face the same fate as Watts, who is expected to have his contract terminated and be deregistered by the NRL if he is found guilty of assaulting Kiss.
Police allege that a verbal argument between the two turned physical. ''The man then allegedly punched the woman to the face before striking her numerous times to the back of the head,'' a police statement said.
''It is further alleged the woman was thrown into a couch, causing her head to impact the armrest.''
Police said Kiss was bruised and her left eye swollen.
The three-year contract Watts signed with the Roosters this season is believed to contain behavioural clauses. Cronulla sacked him in 2007 after an alcohol-related Mad Monday incident in which he got in a fight at Sharks House, where the club accommodates young recruits.
He then signed with the Cowboys before returning to Sydney.
The Roosters fined him earlier this year after the management of Ravesi's in Bondi complained about his behaviour. The Herald knows of another alleged incident involving Watts, who was with Carney the night before his arrest for drink-driving.
Despite being yet to play a game for the Roosters due a knee injury sustained in pre-season training, Watts is on his last warning with the club, the Herald has been told.
If the charge is proven, Roosters officials are likely to reject comparison between Watts's case and that of back-rower Anthony Cherrington, who was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend in 2009 but remains with the club.
Noyce said in a statement that all the facts would have to be established before the club made any judgment.
He said the club knew Watts had been out with Carney and would conduct a thorough investigation before reporting to the NRL within the next 48 hours.
The Roosters expect Carney to play next weekend after missing Saturday night's loss to Brisbane in Gosford due to a groin injury.
Carney and Watts were understood to have been at the hotel with a group, including other Roosters players.
The Herald has been told Watts and Kiss had been in a long-term relationship that ended recently. Kiss had been living on the Gold Coast but returned to Sydney last week.
Police said a provisional apprehended domestic violence order had been served on Watts, who is due to appear in court on Thursday.
