Todd Carney’s former housemate Jake Friend – a man who has also had his share of dramas away from rugby league – says he’ll stand by the disgraced Sharks player and maintains he’ll always be there to support him.

Carney was sacked by Cronulla on Sunday after the publication of a photograph on social media of the 28-year-old urinating into his own mouth in a nightclub toilet.

Todd Carney. Photo: Getty

The former representative star was sacked by the Sydney Roosters in 2011 and by Canberra two years earlier following a succession of alcohol-related incidents.

Friend was also sacked by the Roosters in 2009 after an altercation with a taxi driver, but has managed to turn his life around after being reinstated six months later, and on Monday re-signed with the club for a further three years.

It was during the 2010 NRL season when the Roosters reached the grand final that Friend and Carney shared a unit in the beachside suburb of Coogee in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

During that year that Friend was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a restricted drug without a prescription.

Carney was with him at the time and his car was searched but was not found to have done anything wrong.

Friend said the support he received from Carney at the time was something he would never forget and said he has been in touch to offer his in return.

“I haven’t spoken to him, but I have sent him a message to make sure he’s alright,” Friend said.

“I feel sorry for Todd, it’s a tough situation, he’s out of a job.

“But I’m here for him if he needs anything and I back him. I think he’s a great bloke. But it’s not for me to say if he should be sacked or not.”

Friend saw first hand how Carney reacted to his axing by the Roosters and said he would be feeling very low at losing a third job in the NRL.

“He’ll be devastated and hopefully he can sort it out,” he said.

“He’s a great player and great bloke and should be in the NRL,” he said.

“When I lived with Todd we didn’t drink for 12 months, there were no boozy nights and he took me in when I was going through some stuff.

“He taught me a lot and was a great friend and that is the sort of bloke he is.”