John Cartwright

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Monday, 9th August, 1965
Current Age
58 years and 233 days
Place Of Birth
Penrith, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Second Rower Of The Year
1991, 1992

Known Family Links

Brother
David Cartwright
Michael Cartwright
Cliff Cartwright
Nephew
Bryce Cartwright
Son
Jed Cartwright

Biography

Gifted forward's ability to off-load seemingly impossible around-the-corner passes became his trademark. The son of Penrith founding-father Merv Cartwright, John Cartwright was a gangly teenager when he made his first grade debut in 1985. He honed his ball skills to gain State of Origin selection in 1989 but NSW lost the series 3-0 and Cartwright was ill-used in the front-row. The following year, he was one of four Penrith players selected in the Kangaroo squad but was unlucky to be dropped after Australia's First Test loss against Great Britain at Wembley. The same fate befell him the following year against NZ but while he became a regular selection in the national side as reserve (1991 versus NZ, 1992 Ashes series against Great Britain and victorious World Cup campaign), Cartwright's stature continued to grow at club level. Injury saw him on the bench for Penrith's 1991 grand final team but his inclusion on the field just before half-time was a turning point in the match. The following year, he took over the club captaincy from Greg Alexander and held the club together during a difficult year with his mature leadership both on and off the field. Named Penrith's 'Player of the Year' in 1992, Cartwright’s career was plagued by leg and shoulder injuries over the next three years. Named Penrith captain again for 1995-96, Cartwright was threatened with legal action by the ARL when he wavered from his 'loyalty' contract to listen to Super League offers. He left the club at the end of the following year to see out his career with Salford in England but the move was short-lived. Cartwright returned to the Panthers as a First Division coach, his charges losing to the Bulldogs in the lower grade grand final in 2000, before linking with the Roosters in 2002. Cartwright has since proven an able assistant to coach Ricky Stuart and took the Roosters to the Premier League premiership in 2004. After guiding the USA Tomahawks in the international match against the Kangaroos in Philadelphia in December 2004, Cartwright was named coach of the newly promoted G’Coast Titans for 2007.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NRL 188 14 -   - 56 96 87 5 51.06% List
National Panasonic Cup 6 1 -   - 4 3 3 0 50.00% List
State of Origin 8 1 -   - 4 3 5 0 37.50% List
Tooheys Challenge Cup 4 - -   - - 2 2 0 50.00% List
City vs Country 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
NRL Finals 4 - -   - - 3 1 0 75.00% List
Tour Matches Australia 14 1 -   - 4 13 1 0 92.86% List
Test Series 4 - -   - - 2 2 0 50.00% List
The Ashes 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
World Cup 4 - -   - - 4 0 0 100.00% List
World Club Challenge 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Challenge Cup 4 1 -   - 4 3 1 0 75.00% List
Super League 9 - -   - - 7 2 0 77.78% List
Premiership Trophy 2 2 -   - 8 1 1 0 50.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1990-92 7 - -   - - 5 2 0 71.43% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1990-1992 4 - -   - - 4 0 0 100.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NSW 1989, 1991-92 8 1 -   - 4 3 5 0 37.50% List
NSW City 1990, 1992 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
Overall1989-1992 10 1 0   0 4 4 6 0 40.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Penrith NSWRL 1985 5 - -   - - 2 2 1 40.00% List
Penrith NSWRL 1986 16 2 -   - 8 9 7 0 56.25% List
Penrith NSWRL 1987 22 1 -   - 4 6 16 0 27.27% List
Penrith NSWRL 1988 23 2 -   - 8 15 8 0 65.22% List
Penrith NSWRL 1989 17 1 -   - 4 14 3 0 82.35% List
Penrith NSWRL 1990 20 3 -   - 12 14 5 1 70.00% List
Penrith NSWRL 1991 14 - -   - - 10 3 1 71.43% List
Penrith NSWRL 1992 19 1 -   - 4 9 10 0 47.37% List
Penrith NSWRL 1993 5 - -   - - 0 5 0 0.00% List
Penrith NSWRL 1994 14 2 -   - 8 6 7 1 42.86% List
Penrith ARL 1995 15 1 -   - 4 5 10 0 33.33% List
Penrith ARL 1996 18 1 -   - 4 6 11 1 33.33% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Penrith 1985-96 188 14 -   - 56 96 87 5 51.06% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Salford 1997 15 3 -   - 12 11 4 0 73.33% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Salford 1997 15 3 -   - 12 11 4 0 73.33% List

Your Say

  • Ian Gough
    23/09/2020

    Great player & A great bloke John has a lot to offer coaching 1st grade if given another chance His experience & likeable attitude is the only ingredient needed to be successful. Carry has all the other skills & some just needs an opportunity

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Shawn Dollin, AJ Lucantonio, Andrew Ferguson, Paul Carter, Paul Hicks, Terry Liberopoulos, Alan Katzmann, Max Turner, Greg Fiveash, Steven Russo, Bill Bates

Sources: ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1996, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1997, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Match Video, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1994, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1995, Richard Bailey's Rugby League World, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1998