Cartwright hoping to lock in his spot
BRYCE Cartwright has left fans in no doubt about where he wants to fit into Gold Coast’s NRL squad.
The talented 23-year-old, who completed his first training session yesterday since moving from Penrith, revealed he does not rate himself as a half.
In a stop-start 2017 campaign marred by off-field dramas, Cartwright on several occasions lined up for the Panthers at five-eighth with minimal impact.
When his Titans deal was announced last Saturday, speculation immediately surfaced about whether he would swoop on Kane Elgey’s No.6 jersey.
Coach Garth Brennan wasted little time in throwing his support behind Elgey – and Cartwright yesterday declared he wanted to be utilised in the forward pack anyway.
“(Halves) is somewhere where I don’t want to play,” Cartwright said.
“I have played there before but I feel as though I am better suited in the forwards or on the edge (second-row).”
He elaborated lock is where he hopes to slot in, especially given the freedom Brennan grants his No.13 to roam. Cartwright trained there yesterday.
He does not have a clear pathway, however, with Jai Arrow, Keegan Hipgrave and Ryan Simpkins among those to have signalled their intentions to make the lock role their own.
Cartwright shares a strong bond with Brennan, who he played for at under-20 level, and the rookie NRL coach is well aware of what his latest recruit can contribute to the entertaining brand of football he wants to deliver.
“There’s a lot of work to do with Bryce and Bryce knows that,” Brennan said.
“He’s only 23 and there’s some deficiencies in his game that us as coaches need to work on but there were things in his game that no other players could do … there’s things in his game that people just stand back and go ‘wow’.
“That’s exciting for me.” Cartwright said he had been impressed by the toughness displayed by Titans outfits he had played in the past and is looking forward to basing his young family, including their five-week-old son, on the Coast.
“I love the Gold Coast, I have got a bit of family up here as well,” he said.
“I have been up here every year since I was a baby, our family come on holidays here so that was a plus as well but Garth was probably the biggest factor in coming up here and getting out of Sydney as well – a fresh start with me and my young family.”
Cartwright is the nephew of inaugural Titans coach John Cartwright.