Carney thrown out of Sydney pub after starring in Newcastle debut

The Irishman scored a try in a 25-6 defeat of Parramatta, but then hit the headlines when he was thrown out of the pub in the seaside suburb of Manly and was fined by police for trying to get back in. A security man claimed to have been punched in the incident, for which Carney has apologised, but his new club has declared the matter closed.

Carney, Great Britain's vice-captain in last season's Tri-Nations, has joined on a one-year contract before becoming part of the Gold Coast Titans' inaugural squad for 2007.

Adrian Morley, the most successful British player in the National Rugby League in recent years, is also in trouble. The former Leeds forward has been charged with a careless high tackle in the Sydney Roosters' opening game of the season against South Sydney and faces a suspension of up to three weeks.

Alex Chan, the first player to be sent off playing for the new Super League club, the Catalans Dragons, will fly to England to appear at today's disciplinary hearing. The New Zealand prop was sent off against Leeds on Sunday for fighting.

Wigan have lost their Kiwi front-rower Iafeta Palea'aesina for six weeks with a torn calf muscle. "It's a big blow to us," the Wigan coach Ian Millward said.

There was better news for Sean O'Loughlin, the captain, who was cleared of a suspected fractured cheekbone and will be fit to face Castleford on Sunday.