Redemption, routine and the long road to sobriety with Todd Carney

In a deeply personal episode of Chiming In, host Steve ‘Chimes’ Gillis sat down with former NRL superstar Todd Carney. Far removed from the "bad boy" headlines of his playing days, Carney opened up about his two year journey of sobriety, the transformative power of fatherhood, and his new mission to mentor the next generation of rugby league talent.

The Turning Point: Choosing Life Over the Bottle

For years, Todd Carney’s name was synonymous with both brilliance on the field and chaos off it. Despite winning the Dally M Medal and representing his country, Carney admitted that his struggle with alcohol was a constant shadow he wasn't ready to confront until everything was on the line.

"I had the water at my feet at rugby league, but I still chose to drink because I wasn't ready. I didn't understand the chaos or the damage I was causing. Until you lose your family, your kid, to alcohol, it makes you realise real quick that you either got to change something or leave their life permanently."

The defining moment came during a period of separation from his partner. After a night of solitary drinking, Carney found himself unable to look in the mirror while brushing his teeth. That morning, he reached out to his family and checked into a rehabilitation facility in Gympie, a move he credits with saving his life.

Life in Rehab: Stripping Away the Persona

Entering rehab meant a total disconnect from the outside world. For the first two weeks, Carney had no phone and no contact with his family. He recalled the "dreaded drive" to the facility and the shock of having the doors shut behind him, leaving him to face his demons without the shield of his public identity.

"Day one for me was the dreaded drive from Gold Coast to Gympie. I thought I was going to be able to go out and say goodbye, door was shut. In rehab, everyone's fighting the same battle. I felt weak because their rock bottom was way worse than mine, but alcohol and drugs don't discriminate. They'll attack you any way they want."

A pivotal part of his recovery involved an "exit strategy" where he had to read his entire life story, including the negative chapters, to a group of strangers. Carney described it as a harrowing but necessary process of "unpacking everything" to become whole again.

Maintaining the Routine: The Daily Battle

Now over two years sober, Carney emphasised that sobriety isn't a destination but a daily practice. His life is built around a strict routine that includes daily readings, therapy and staying physically active. He also continues to navigate the social challenges of a culture heavily centred on alcohol.

"Being sober is the message, but life is still difficult. I still have to remind myself daily that I can't do it. I go to functions now and I watch the room. I pick people out who would be like me. The hard part is when you're on your own. I drive past bottle shops sometimes and that little monkey on my shoulder goes, 'Imagine what it’d be like to drive in there'."

Giving Back: The Reboot Your Mindset Academy

Alongside fellow former player Mitchell Pearce, Carney has founded the Reboot Your Mindset Academy, a charity aimed at mentoring youth, inmates and workers in high pressure sectors. The program combines their lived experiences with scientific methodology delivered by psychologists.

"We tell stories about our life and we share a message, and then we put science behind it. For young kids, they won't even know who we are, so we’ve got a video of us playing and then talking about our journeys. If I say something someone resonates with and it helps them, that’s a job done. That’s a win."

Coaching the Next Generation

Carney has found a new passion in coaching, working with the pathways at the Gold Coast Titans and mentoring students at Keebra Park State High School. He takes immense pride in seeing young players succeed, though he is honest about the dedication required to make it in the modern game.

"I love watching kids succeed. I run the water on Wednesday for our open A's at Keebra, I'm more excited than I was when I was playing. I tell the kids, there's no Plan B anymore because there's too many good kids out there. You’ve got to go all in."

Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.

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