Sydney Roosters boss Steve Noyce says suspended star Todd Carney was told to stay at home for Monday's NRL clash with St George Illawarra out of respect for the Anzac tradition.

Carney missed the 24-10 loss in the 10th Anzac Day meeting between the clubs after speaking with Noyce in a phone call on Monday morning following his indefinite suspension last week for breaking a pledge to stay away from alcohol.

The 24-year-old had a training session with the club's rehabilitation staff before watching the match at home on television.

"We all need to be respectful of some of the issues here and I just think, in weighing it all up, in the end potentially it could have become the Todd Carney show out here," Noyce told AAP.

"All of us were trying to be really respectful about the Anzac spirit and all those things, so I think that needed to be the focus today.

"It's not as though he's barred form coming to the game but the decision today was he would stay at home and watch the game."

Noyce said the toughest period for the club and Carney still lay ahead as the Roosters awaited the medical professionals they are working with to return from the Easter break.

"We'll wait and see what happens next week," Noyce said.

"I think we just have to keep monitoring it.

"We've probably done the easy bit, even though that was hard to do, but the harder bit now is to work with Todd and the other people at the club to come up with a positive outcome."

He described reports Carney would, as part of his therapy, turn out for feeder club Newtown as "people getting ahead of themselves".

The 2010 grand finalists are 2-5 after a tough opening to the season but they turned in one of their best, and certainly their most physical, performance of this year against the premiers.

Coach Brian Smith and captain Braith Anasta admitted the off-field dramas, which also resulted in the suspension of Anthony Watts after the recruit was charged with assault, had galvanised the side.

"We've got a lot of guys in this footy club that care a lot about the club," Smith said.

"When something happens in our footy club ... you can't have it both ways.

"You can't have guys who care a lot and then not give a rat's when something's not right.

"There is a professional level there of being able to put something out of your mind and get on with your work and your build-up to such a big game."

Carney's halves partner Mitchell Pearce said the Roosters' players were doing their best to understand the situation.

"I don't think there's any point getting angry now," he said.

"I suppose at first you have a few emotions about different things and it does disrupt the group when there's a few dramas, whatever it is.

"The reason we played well last year was everyone was on the same page and working for the same thing.

"Braith and Smithy and a few of the older boys have been getting into everyone about really focusing and I think we did that good today.

"We certainly showed a better attitude than we have been."

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