Cronulla Sharks five-eighth Todd Carney is questioned by the media as he leaves training on Saturday. Picture: SASHA WOOLLEY
RUGBY LEAGUE
Cronulla five-eighth Todd Carney says the Sharks need the drugs crisis engulfing the club resolved as soon as possible, admitting the side can't play on emotion all season.
The Sharks put the most dramatic week in the NRL club's history to one side as they beat Gold Coast 12-10 at Sharks Stadium in an emotion-charged performance on Sunday night.
But as the squad gathered for yesterday's recovery session, the reality that as many as 14 players still have the threat of a drugs ban hanging over their heads again hit home.
Interim coach Peter Sharp admitted his players were under enormous mental anguish as they took to the field for the Titans contest.
"It's all emotional and the thing is for us we can't rely on emotion for the rest of the year and that's why we want it resolved as soon as possible," Carney said yesterday.
A quick resolution is unlikely, however, with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's (ASADA) investigation into the club likely to last for another four weeks.
The impact of last week's dramatic culling of four staff members was still being felt yesterday with the club confirming sacked football manager Darren Mooney had been admitted to hospital suffering stress-related issues.
Pressure is also mounting on club chairman Damian Irvine to step down after he claimed in a report that players had been injected with horse drugs in 2011.
The issues facing the Sharks are being felt around the NRL with Parramatta superstar Jarryd Hayne saying he was sickened by the doping crisis.
"As another player, I feel sick just watching it," Hayne said yesterday.
"For them [Cronulla], I hope it gets sorted out as soon as possible.
"I recorded the game ... and for the fans to march and really support the area, I think it's just great for rugby league and for the shire area.
Hayne said he was confident the club would overcome the saga.
"Everyone just wants this knocked on the head so we can play football and do what we do best.
"I'm sure they have the right people around them and they will get over this," Hayne said. AAP