Todd Carney’s wife Susie Pearl says she wasn’t shocked or repulsed when she found out her future husband was the man behind one of rugby league’s most infamous photos.
The ‘bubbler’ image, which showed Carney appearing to urinate into his own mouth in a Cronulla nightclub toilet, ended his NRL career in 2014.
For many, it became a symbol of a wasted talent and a career derailed by alcohol. But for Pearl, it was just ‘something dumb’ she’d seen before.
‘The only thing I knew (about Todd) was my partner’s brother at the time had also done the bubbler,’ she said.
‘And I knew it was the same thing as the guy from football. Then when I realised who Todd was, it was the only two things I linked together.
‘Well, I liked him instantly so no, it was not a turn-off. Who doesn’t do that crap?’
Former NRL playmaker and former MAFS star Susie Pearl and Todd Carney are happily married today
Susie met Carney after the infamous bubbler incident that saw him sacked from the NRL
Carney had been playing for the Cronulla Sharks after being sacked from the Raiders and Roosters when the NRL kicked him out for good
Carney’s NRL career began in 2004 with the Canberra Raiders. But off-field issues, including a police chase in 2007, saw him sacked in 2008.
The Sydney Roosters gave him another chance in 2010, where he won the Dally M Medal. Despite that high, Carney was again sacked in 2011 due to alcohol breaches.
He later joined Cronulla and was again on the rise until the bubbler incident ended his career for good.
Carney admitted he still feels shame about the photo, which went viral within hours. In his 2019 autobiography Hard Truth, he wrote, ‘It was a stupid party trick, very tasteless and inappropriate.’
He said the fallout hurt his family deeply, especially calling his mum and sisters to explain before it became national news.
‘I was ashamed and embarrassed for myself, my family, the club and the game,’ he wrote.
Susie said the couple have had a rocky relationship but found strength in Carney’s honesty.
‘We haven’t had a smooth go at all. His alcoholism ultimately led to us separating for a year,’ she said.
Carney has since cleaned up his act and is now sober and working as a concreter on the Gold Coast in Queensland
Susie said she never judged Carney for the bubbler and said it was just a stupid act, like we are all capable of
‘Todd ended up taking himself to rehab, and if it wasn’t for him admitting himself, we wouldn’t be here today.’
Carney now lives a quieter life on the Gold Coast. He works as a concreter and owns several properties and a tattoo parlour in Bali.
He has maintained friendships with former teammates like Braith Anasta and Paul Gallen.
‘Yes, I hurt fans, organisations and the businesses I was playing for, but the person I hurt most was myself,’ he said.
He still suffers anxiety in public toilets, fearing people will mock him.
‘Every time I go to a public toilet, I find myself anxious that blokes will see me in there and take the mickey out of me,’ Carney said.
‘It made me who I am now,’ he previously said. ‘I’ve got a tattoo that says: ‘Everything happens for a reason’. I believe it does.’
Pearl, who rose to fame on Married At First Sight, believes many people don’t see the real Todd.
‘Todd, really in my opinion, is someone who is quite introverted,’ she said. ‘He is very well spoken and holds himself so well, especially in a professional situation.
‘But the second he has to perform socially, he’s obviously had his trouble with alcoholism and can be uneasy and introverted.’
Their bond is stronger now, she says, because she sees what others don’t. ‘I’m lucky because I get to see all the sides of him, and I believe he’s the best human in the world.’
