John Cartwright (born 9 August 1965) is the assistant coach of the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL and an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and former head coach. He was the head coach for the Gold Coast Titans. A "strong running and skilful passing" Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Cartwright played his club football with the Penrith Panthers, winning the 1991 premiership with them. 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. Cartwright had a sudden rise through representative ranks in 1989. Initially not chosen for the City Origin team, he took his place in the firsts team after a spate of injuries. John was the named on the bench for New South Wales for the first State of Origin match. Unfortunately, a late injury to Ian Roberts forced him to play in the front row, to which John was ill-suited, and John was dropped after one match. At the end of the year, John 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 John Cartwright. On returning from suspension, John Cartwright found form very quickly and at the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, John went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France but was dropped after one Test. Injury affected Cartwright in 1991, and Cartwright was used as a reserve in two of the three Tests against New Zealand. Following the 1991 grand final victory , Cartwright travelled with the Penrith club to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge which was lost to Wigan. Cartwright had his finest season of all in 1992. During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, Cartwright helped Australia retain The Ashes. John 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. At the end of 1996, Cartwright left Penrith to play in England. Coaching career After he finally retired as a player, John Cartwright became an assistant coach at the Penrith club and the Sydney Roosters. In 2000