Sydney Roosters star utility Todd Carney has revealed he is 40 days into a self-imposed grog ban as he seeks to win back acceptance from a sceptical rugby league community following a litany of off-field dramas.
Carney has spent 18 months out of the NRL after being sacked by Canberra for a string of alcohol-related incidents, returning to the big time via the Roosters after a stint with north Queensland park side Atherton in 2009.
On the eve of an emotional trip back to Atherton with the Roosters for a trial against his old side on Saturday night, Carney told how swearing off the booze was the only way he could avoid further trouble.
His ban started the day after he allegedly lit a mate's backside during a raucous New Year's Eve bash at Airlie Beach.
"I feel like a different person. I haven't had a beer since New Year's and that's big for me," Carney said on Tuesday.
"I wake up in the mornings feeling good; I don't wake up in the morning thinking what I could have done wrong (the night before)."
"Hopefully I can keep building on that. It's an ongoing process and it's not going to be public for how long (I'm staying alcohol-free) but I'm just going week by week, day by day."
"It (alcohol) was never a big issue but I just had to come to the point where I said there was no more and I've come that and I'm feeling comfortable."
"I'm happy to say it publicly that I'm doing good and I'm feeling great and I'm ready and excited about playing football."
But Carney readily concedes his past will always just be in the background, threatening to taunt him at even turn.
"There's always going to be people when they mention my name it's going to be going back to things I've done wrong off the field," he admitted.
"I've got things in place with the Roosters and outside of football to try and change my image but it's never going to be back to when I came into the game."
"That's something I've got to accept. I am at a new club now and we're going through new beginnings and I'm going with that approach too."
There are new beginnings for Carney on the field as well, with coach Brian Smith trialling him at full-back during the pre-season.
More at home at five-eighth or half, the 23-year-old is happy to wear the No.1 although he admits Anthony Minichiello is the club's leading full-back.
"It's going to be a test. It's tough and I'm slowly getting used to it," Carney said of his switch.
"I'm just going with what Smiths says. If he said play front-row and put on 20 kilos, I'd do it tomorrow."
"If that's going to be the way for the Roosters, I'll do that."
Wherever he plays, Carney believes the Roosters have picked up a better player than the one who left the Raiders in disgrace.
"I feel like I'm fitter than I was at Canberra and I'm definitely stronger than what I was," he said.
"I feel I've come on leaps and bounds with Smithy's structure and the way we're playing."
"I feel I'm a bit more knowledgeable about the game so hopefully I can jump straight back into and be a better player."