John Cartwright (rugby league)

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John Cartwright (born 9 August 1965) is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current coach of the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League.

[edit] Playing career

Cartwright 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. 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 was an automatic selection in the Kangaroo squad but was dropped after one Test. Injury affected him in 1991, and he was used as a reserve in two fo the three Tests against New Zealand. 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. 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.

[edit] Coaching career

After he finally retired as a player, Cartwright became an assistant coach at the Panthers and the Sydney Roosters. 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. After a period as assistant to Ricky Stuart at the Sydney Roosters, Cartwright was appointed coach of the 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." ^[1]

[edit] References

• Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen (2007). The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. Wetherill Park, New South Wales: Gary Allen Pty Ltd, 609. ISBN 9781877082931. 

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

• John Cartwright (rugby league) at the State of Origin official website.
• Reds gain Titan support