France provided Sonny Bill Williams with an opportunity to quit the NRL and it could yet open the door for his return.
Williams, who has delayed an announcement on his future until after the Rugby World Cup, has been a long-standing target for the Sydney Roosters, and the impending departure of Todd Carney could attract the club's interest for next season.
The Roosters want Carney to play in France with Super League side Catalans. It is understood Carney would prefer to stay. In the end, he may have no choice.
The 25-year-old is on the outer after a series of off-field incidents, the latest costing him the trust and support of his teammates.
It is believed they want Carney gone. If the rumour mill is on the money, the coaching staff does as well.
The club would prefer he stand down, and that is expected to happen next week.
In the meantime, Catalans has been getting its house in order to open a space for Carney on its roster.
Although it is governed by import restrictions, Catalans coach Trent Robinson, a former assistant at the Roosters, is expected to create a spot by changing the status of one of his players, potentially former Canterbury-Bankstown back Darryl Millard who has Fijian heritage.
Once that happens, the decision will be left to Carney.
His options in the NRL officially dried up on Friday when Cronulla made it clear there was no place for the Dally M winner at the Sharks.
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan had indicated the club would consider signing Carney but chairman Damian Irvine officially ended their nascent interest when he declared the five-eighth's troubled past made it impossible to consider signing him despite his obvious talents.
"We're not interested at all in having him at the club," Irvine said.
Shane's stance and his opinion was that as a footballer he is fantastic but all the other issues make him unemployable. That's where we're at.
"We won't consider him. I think Shane commented out of respect for Todd and a desire not to offend him. It's a shame. We just can't have an unsettling player at the club."
Williams stands to be the greatest benefactor from Carney's decision. The dual international walked out on Canterbury and the NRL in 2008, joining French rugby union side Toulon.
He subsequently returned to New Zealand to play for the Crusaders and the All Blacks but New Zealand officials, including those at the Crusaders, privately admit he will return to Sydney next year.
The most likely scenario would be to play rugby league as the Australian Rugby Union would be unlikely to provide a top-up payment to a player ineligible for the Wallabies.
That would leave it to the Waratahs to find the money to pay Williams what he is worth if he is to stay in rugby union.
Given they are scrambling to find enough money for former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom, Williams would appear beyond their capabilities. Furthermore, the Waratahs have devoted their import spot to South Africa halfback Sarel Pretorious.
That leaves the Roosters as the most likely option given the club will have room to manoeuvre under the salary cap should Carney depart.
It's likely Carney could free up as much as $400,000, although that may not be enough on its own to convince Williams to return.
The only remaining hurdle would be to convince the Bulldogs to waive their hold on Williams.
As part of his release to join Toulon, Williams was banned from playing for any NRL club other than the Bulldogs until 2013.
The Roosters may be forced to pay compensation to the Bulldogs if Williams is to join the club next season, although there have been suggestions the close relationship between Politis and Canterbury chairman Ray Dib could result in that right being waived. Carney, however, will have the final say.
Source: Fox Sports
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