Carty article.
http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au...cowboys-believer/story-fnj9yd9w-1227554841153
NRL
Former Gold Coast Titans coach John Cartwright always a Cowboys believer
- CONNOR O’BRIEN
- GOLD COAST BULLETIN
- OCTOBER 03, 2015 12:00AM
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John Cartwright, assistant coach of the North Queensland Cowboys in Sydney ahead of Sunday’s Grand Final.
WHEN John Cartwright’s coaching stint at the Titans came to an unceremonious end in August last year, the man himself could hardly have believed what was to come the very next season.
After a five-month break, he signed on as Paul Green’s assistant at the Cowboys for 2015 and is now on the verge of being involved in a first premiership for the Townsville-based side.
His old club, meanwhile, with ex-Cowboys coach Neil Henry at the helm, suffered another dour season battling to avoid the wooden spoon.
Having already signed on as Trent Barrett’s assistant coach at Manly in 2016, it seems Cartwright picked the perfect window of opportunity to be part of North Queensland’s success.
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FORMER TITAN SUES SEARLE OVER LOAN
Titans coach John Cartwright has bounced back to be part of the Cowboys’ grand final coaching staff after his exit from the Titans last year. Photo: Getty images
But it wasn’t all luck — the 50-year-old always believed the Cowboys were genuine contenders.
“The biggest motivator for me to come up here was that I really thought the side did have the potential to get to a grand final,” Cartwright said.
“So in that regard, personally it has been fantastic … I couldn’t have asked for much more.”
The move north came at the cost of leaving family behind, though Cartwright considers himself lucky to still be involved in rugby league.
“That’s the job. I did have to up and move and it’s a long way away and pretty remote at times but to stay involved in football it was something that I was willing to do.”
The risk paid off, with friends and current and former Titans players sending their grand final best wishes just eight months after his appointment was announced.
The 1991 Panthers premiership winner said the club had left no stone unturned in finding success.
And Cartwright believes that the all-Queensland finale is so evenly matched it could “come down to the bounce of the ball”.
North Queensland Cowboys assistant coach John Cartwright at training.
Another enjoyable factor has been their dedicated fanbase, with many putting tough economic conditions aside to pay thousands in airfares to cheer on their team.
That’s not even to mention the Johnathan Thurston factor.
“I would have loved to have him at the Titans. I think we certainly would have been close to winning a few titles down there if he was running around with the Titans.”
Cartwright said Thurston’s class and skill was on display for all to see but only up close did you realise his courage and dedication to the team.
“He’s the most courageous No. 7 I have seen. And what a team player he is.
“There’s nothing individual about Johnathan — what he does is so he can win alongside his teammates.
“That’s a real quality that you need to have to win these big games.”
Former Titans prop Luke Bailey, whose eight-year career on the Glitter Strip ran parallel with Cartwright, said he was barracking for the Cowboys purely because “Carty” was there.
“I loved my time under Carty,” Bailey said.
“He had some time off and it made him realise how much he missed the game and I think he went up there with a fresh approach.
“Everyone that is involved with that side is responsible for getting them to the grand final.”
Bailey said he was happy to see Cartwright succeeding after the end to his career on the Coast that “maybe took him a bit by surprise’’.
“I probably, in hindsight, take some responsibility for not being as successful as we (should have been),’’ Bailey said.
“I would give it all on the field but probably off the field (I would now) try to create a better core senior playing group that had higher expectations of each other.”
