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John Cartwright (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
John Cartwright is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach for the Gold Coast Titans
of the National Rugby League
. An 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.
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. Both were much larger than most 1980s second-rowers and could not only hit-up very hard but offload extremely difficult passes to support players like Greg Alexander
, Chris Mortimer
and later Brad Fittler
, creating major problems for Penrith's opponents. By 1989 the pair were creating large numbers of tries for the Panthers and, with the New South Wales State of Origin
team regrouping, Cartwright was picked for the first match. Unfortunately, late team changes 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.
Injury affected Cartwright in 1991, and he was used as a reserve in two of the three Tests against New Zealand. Following the 1991 grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge
which was lost to Wigan.
Despite the troubles partner Geyer was having off the field and his eventual departure from Penrith, Cartwright had his finest season of all in 1992. During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he helped Australia retain The Ashes. He played in all three games for New South Wales (scoring a rare try in the third) and took over the Penrith captaincy when Greg Alexander was injured. He was praised at the end of a turbulent year for holding the Panthers together on and off the field.
However, 1993 was almost wiped out by a shoulder injury and a number of lesser injuries in the following two years prevented Cartwright from breaking back into representative rugby league. At the end of 1996 he left Penrith to play in England.
. In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.
John Cartwright began coaching at Penrith as the reserve coach in 2001. He was John Lang
's assistant coach when the Panthers took out the 2003 NRL Premiership. After a period as assistant to Ricky Stuart
at the Sydney Roosters
, as well as coaching the United States national rugby league team
against the Kangaroos in 2004, Cartwright was appointed the inaugural coach of the Gold Coast Titans
after their admission to the National Rugby League
.
He became involved in a feud with Melbourne Storm
winger Steve Turner
over contractual obligations. "We flew him up, showed him around for two or three days and he agreed to me that he would come here, we shook hands. He looked me in the eye. The deal was done. He even started looking for accommodation. I only coached him in a couple of games at Penrith and my reaction has been the same as it would be for any player in this situation. But to do what he has done . . . I'm not happy. I'm extremely disappointed, to say the least."
In 2009 he was selected to coach the NSW Country Origin side
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Cartwright played his club football with the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
, winning the 1991 premiership with them.
Playing career
Cartwright played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1986. He began with PenrithPenrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in 1985 and was a regular first-grade player by 1987.
In 1988, under the guidance of Ron Willey
Ron Willey
Ron Willey was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He was a representative for the Australian national side. Post-playing, Willey had a long and successful first grade and State representative coaching career.-Club career:...
, Penrith developed a heavyweight, aggressive forward pack of which Cartwright and second row partner Mark Geyer
Mark Geyer
Mark Geyer , is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-rower, he is currently a rugby league media identity...
were the cornerstones. Both were much larger than most 1980s second-rowers and could not only hit-up very hard but offload extremely difficult passes to support players like Greg Alexander
Greg Alexander
Gregory Peter Stephen "Greg" Alexander is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s who has since become a commentator. A goal-kicking half-back, in his career he played for and captained the Penrith Panthers and the Auckland Warriors clubs and also represented his country...
, Chris Mortimer
Chris Mortimer
Chris Mortimer is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the Canterbury Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....
and later Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler
Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
, creating major problems for Penrith's opponents. By 1989 the pair were creating large numbers of tries for the Panthers and, with the New South Wales State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
team regrouping, Cartwright was picked for the first match. Unfortunately, late team changes 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
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
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
1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
The 1990 Kangaroo Tour was the seventeenth Kangaroo Tour, where the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Europe and played eighteen matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches...
but was dropped after one Test.
Injury affected Cartwright in 1991, and he was used as a reserve in two of the three Tests against New Zealand. Following the 1991 grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge
1991 World Club Challenge
The 1991 World Club Challenge was contested by 1990–91 RFL Championship winners, Wigan and 1991 NSWRL season premiers, the Penrith Panthers. The match was played on a dry Wednesday the 2nd of October, 1991 at Anfield, Liverpool...
which was lost to Wigan.
Despite the troubles partner Geyer was having off the field and his eventual departure from Penrith, Cartwright had his finest season of all in 1992. During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he helped Australia retain The Ashes. He played in all three games for New South Wales (scoring a rare try in the third) and took over the Penrith captaincy when Greg Alexander was injured. He was praised at the end of a turbulent year for holding the Panthers together on and off the field.
However, 1993 was almost wiped out by a shoulder injury and a number of lesser injuries in the following two years prevented Cartwright from breaking back into representative rugby league. At the end of 1996 he left Penrith to play in England.
Coaching career
After he finally retired as a player, Cartwright became an assistant coach at the Panthers and the Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.
John Cartwright began coaching at Penrith as the reserve coach in 2001. He was John Lang
John Lang (rugby league)
John Lang is an Australian former rugby league football coach and player. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative hooker, he played his club football in Brisbane with the Eastern Suburbs Tigers and in Sydney with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters...
's assistant coach when the Panthers took out the 2003 NRL Premiership. After a period as assistant to Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
at the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, as well as coaching the United States national rugby league team
United States national rugby league team
-2008 & 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifying:In October 2006, The Tomahawks were to participate in a four team Atlantic qualifying pool for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, but South Africa and the West Indies withdrew. As a result, The Atlantic qualifying pool was reduced to a single game...
against the Kangaroos in 2004, Cartwright was appointed the inaugural coach of the Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
after their admission to the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
.
He became involved in a feud with Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
winger Steve Turner
Steve Turner (rugby league footballer)
Steve Turner, is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League competition. A New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he previously played for the Penrith Panthers before joining the Storm. With the Storm he...
over contractual obligations. "We flew him up, showed him around for two or three days and he agreed to me that he would come here, we shook hands. He looked me in the eye. The deal was done. He even started looking for accommodation. I only coached him in a couple of games at Penrith and my reaction has been the same as it would be for any player in this situation. But to do what he has done . . . I'm not happy. I'm extremely disappointed, to say the least."
In 2009 he was selected to coach the NSW Country Origin side