John Cartwright (rugby league)

John Cartwright

Cartwright in 2009
Personal information
Nickname	Carty
Born	(1965-08-09) 9 August 1965 (age 51) Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	108 kg (17 st 0 lb; 238 lb)
Position	Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1985–96 Penrith Panthers 184 14 0 0 56 1997 Salford Reds 6 1 0 0 4 Total 190 15 0 0 60 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1989–92 New South Wales 8 1 0 0 4 1990–92 Australia 18 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 2007–14 Gold Coast Titans 186 86 0 100 46 2009–11 City Origin 3 1 0 2 33 2004 USA 1 0 0 1 0
Source: Yesterday's HeroRLP

John Cartwright (born 9 August 1965) is a former Australian professional rugby league player and current assistant coach for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL). He was the former head coach for the Gold Coast Titans. A "strong running and skilful passing" Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Cartwright played his club football with the Penrith Panthers, winning the 1991 premiership with them.

Cartwright played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1986. He began with Penrith in 1985 and was a regular first-grade player by 1987.

In 1988, under the guidance of Ron Willey, Penrith developed a heavyweight, aggressive forward pack of which Cartwright and second row partner Mark Geyer were the cornerstones.

Cartwright had a sudden rise through representative ranks in 1989. Initially not chosen for the City Origin team, he took his place in the firsts team after a spate of injuries. He was the named on the bench for New South Wales for the first State of Origin match. Unfortunately, a late injury to Ian Roberts forced him to play in the front row, to which he was ill-suited, and he was dropped after one match. At the end of the year, he was sent off against Balmain and suspended for four matches. Penrith were thrashed 33-6 and could not win either of their two finals without Cartwright. On returning from suspension, Cartwright found form very quickly and at the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France but was dropped after one Test.