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By David Jean, Canberra Times - Former Canberra Raiders halfback Todd Carney is no chance of playing rugby league this season after NRL boss David Gallop rejected his plea for leniency yesterday.

Carney and his manager David Riolo met with Gallop in Sydney last night in the hope of convincing him to allow the troubled playmaker to return to NRL action in 2009.

But Gallop told them the NRL hadn't changed its stance since the Raiders sacked Carney following a string of off-field incidents last year.

Carney has been linked with Wests Tigers, Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra since he was denied a visa to play with British Super League side Huddersfield last year.

Gallop said he would reject attempts to register Carney this season. ''That was the position when the Raiders terminated Todd and that remains our position,'' Gallop said.

''It might seem tough, but sometimes punishment has to be tough to deliver consequences and also to act as a deterrent to others.

''While not agreeing with me, they seemed to accept that that's where we're at.''

''I can't see what would change.''

Riolo had hoped Gallop would soften his stance when he pointed to the number of players including Mitchell Sargeant and Arana Taumata who had been sacked by one club and signed by another.

But Gallop said the fact the Raiders had strongly opposed playing against Carney this season had been enough for the NRL to stand firm.

''We look at the conduct which led to the termination and the attitude of the club that is terminating that player,'' he said.

''Clearly there's an inherent unfairness in clubs terminating players and then finding themselves playing against that player.

''Sometimes clubs take the view that they just want a player out of their own joint and they don't mind him being somewhere else.

''Each one is looked at in its own set of circumstances.''

Carney will now have to look to another code if he wants to play football in Australia this year.

While the NRL has no power to stop the NSW Rugby League, Country Rugby League or Queensland Rugby League from registering Carney, Gallop was adamant no competition in Australia would act against the NRL's ruling.

''It would be a decision for the officials that control those competitions, but generally the leagues recognise each other's sanctions.

''We generally try to make sanctions right across the game.''

NSWRL chief executive Geoff Carr confirmed he would not register Carney for any competition under his jurisdiction unless he had the blessing of the Raiders and the NRL hierarchy.