Carney - I'm ready to play

Winger admits he struggled to come to grips with 15-man code

Last updated: 16th June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Carney - I'm ready to play

Carney: Happier in 13-man code

Rugby league is a game I'm better suited to. It's a game I know better. That comes from playing it for a little longer than I played rugby union. There is a lot of involvement in league, I guess, for a winger

Brian Carney
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Brian Carney admits he can't wait to get his rugby league career back underway again as he prepares to make his Warrington debut.

The winger is in the second week of training with the Wolves after signing a deal with the Super League club until the end of the 2009 season.

The former Great Britain international has returned to the 13-man code after completing his commitments with Munster and the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Carney could feature on Saturday, with coach Tony Smith confirming that the player will travel to Barcelona for the clash with Catalans Dragons.

Exciting

"It's exciting to be back in the game," he said. "I'm ready to play. It's going to take me some time and some matches under my belt to get everything right.

"Whether that comes this weekend or in a reserve game the following weekend, I'll wait and see.

"I won't expect to slot back in and in my first game look like I've never been away. That would be brilliant but I'm a bit more realistic than that.

"There is a bit of fine-tuning needed. I wouldn't think it would be effortless but it's something I think I could do.

"If the coach decides that the guys are playing well enough in my position and he asks me to play reserve grade that would be no problem at all."

Carney, who technically remains under contract with Ireland for another fortnight, admits he struggled to come to grips with rugby union.

He switched codes back in 2007 and was selected in Ireland's World Cup squad that year. However, he did not play a single game in the tournament.

Struggled

"I don't want it to come across that I didn't like rugby union or the people, because nothing could be further from the truth," he admitted.

"I struggled at times to know where and what I should be doing on a rugby union field.

"Rugby league is a game I'm better suited to. It's a game I know better. That comes from playing it for a little longer than I played rugby union. There is a lot of involvement in league, I guess, for a winger."

The 32-year-old has also confirmed that he will be available for Ireland to play in the European Nations Cup at the end of the season.

The Irish play Serbia and Wales in their group games and Carney added: "I'll put my hand up for that."