Panther 248
184 matches [1985-1996]
56 points [14 tries]
Stats: themightypanthers.com/players_cartwright-john.htm
One of four sons of founding father Merv Cartwright who played first grade at Penrith.
He debuted just before his 20th birthday, and soon became an integral part of the Panthers back row as they emerged as a premiership heavyweight in the late 1980s. Cartwright possessed a gifted passing game and finding an ability to offload the ball at the point of contact.
Cartwright debuted for New South Wales in 1989, and then in 1990 became the club’s third Australian Test representative when he was selected on the Kangaroo Tour and played in the first Test against Great Britain.
1991 was an injury disrupted season for Cartwright, but was a member of the Panthers maiden premiership winning team, coming off the bench just before half time.
He would assume the club captain role in 1992, which would be a role that he would hold until his final season in 1996. The last couple of seasons however would be plagued by injury, but would continue to provide leadership and experience in a team that was gradually being dismantled from the glory of 1991.
Cartwright would play one more season for Salford in the English Super League before retiring.
He would return to the Panthers in a coaching capacity, being the Second Division (reserve grade) coach in 2000 when the Panthers lost to the Bulldogs in the grand final. He would later become the Gold Coast Titans inaugural first grade coach in 2007, where he would be until he was sacked in 2014.
The Mighty Panthers 