Former rugby league bad boy Todd Carney says he has aspirations to coach in the NRL one day after turning his life around.

Carney, the 2010 Dally M Medal winner, is back involved with the game as a coach at the Keebra Park rugby league academy on the Gold Coast, where he is a fulltime junior pathways coach at the Titans.

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Matty Johns, a shareholder of the Gold Coast Titans, has praised Carney’s ability as a junior coach and previously said he sees the former Canberra, Sharks and Roosters star as a future NRL coach.

“I’ve seen first hand the work you’re doing coaching at Keebra Park, coaching at the Titans,” Johns said to Carney on Finals Footy with Matty Johns on Kayo Sports.

“Do you see yourself in the future … would you like to be an NRL coach?”

Carney replied: “I get quite confused when I get asked this question because I’m so unsure.

“I respect the game so much and I respect how hard head coaches work. I’ve got a young family and they’ll always be a priority at the start. But in years to come, definitely.

“What I like about coaching at the moment is I like working with the younger generation because I know how hard it is. But also I like to get a relationship with them.

Carney gave an insight into his coaching philosophy, saying: “A lot of people say ‘You’ve got to do this’ and don’t tell them the reason why. They always say you’ve just got to do it.

“I believe if you teach them why they’re doing it before you teach them how to do it.”

Carney said he was taking a gradual approach to his coaching career.

“I like the junior stuff,” he said.

“There’s plenty of time for it (NRL coaching) to come. It’s baby steps for me.

“I’m enjoying it and I feel if I’m rushed into it, the enjoyment part might go and the pressure comes on. I like being out of the pressure.”

Johns told Carney: “What you’re doing at the moment is pure coaching, helping players improve.

“Toddy, I’m not going to say I’m surprised by it because I know how smart you are and you’re eloquent, you talk well.

“Mate, you’re an outstanding coach. The work you’re doing with the young players up there is fantastic.”

Carney infamously had his playing contract with the Cronulla Sharks torn up as a result of a lewd “bubbler” photo, which showed him urinating into his own mouth.

Carney shot into the NRL spotlight as a 17-year-old, however, his career was derailed by a series of off-field incidents that saw him sacked from Canberra and released by the Sydney Roosters as a result of alcohol-related incidents.

The 40-year-old and former Roosters teammate Mitchell Pearce have formed a close bond since hanging up the boots, and they are now both more than three years sober and have started the Reboot Mindset Academy.

“I had a great relationship with Pearcey as a player but the friendship’s grown so much,” Carney explained.

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“We get quite emotional about it. We went on the journey together and I believe we’ve both kept each other honest about it and we have hard conversations.

“Before we sort of touch the piss out of each other, this time it’s more personal. It’s something we’re passionate about because we probably didn’t get the benefit out of it when we were younger. Hopefully we can change a few people’s lives along the way.

“Time was enough for us. We’re nearly three and a half years sober now, both of us. I always put my hand up and say I’ve had a few slip-ups along the way. I’m not perfect and I never will be.”