Bryce Cartwright has enjoyed a turbulent time in first grade to say the least – but now, as he enters his tenth year in the NRL, the one-time tyro looks set to finally live up to the promise that he showed in his early years.
And, according to the man himself, there’s just one reason for that: Parramatta coach Brad Arthur.
In a candid interview following his man of the match performance for the Eels against the Bulldogs last week, Cartwright opened up on his own personal failings over the years, and explained how his coach had convinced him to screw the nut and deliver on his undoubted talent.
“He’s probably just simplified my game,” said the backrower of Arthur.
“He just wants me to play tough, play simple and the other things will come off that. More of a team-first mentality. He reminds me of my Dad in some ways, he can be very cranky but I love him and I think I resonate with that.
“I feel like when was young, I was sort of a part-time, inconsistent player. I’d do some good plays and then some really bad plays.
“I feel like as I’ve got older in the last couple of years I’ve tried to turn myself into an 80-minute player, with bit more composure and a bit more team mentality first. It’s working out for me now.”
That has perhaps best manifested in Cartwright adding the free, effort-based aspects of his game to the more flashy parts that had been the hallmark of his time at the Panthers and Titans.
“I probably didn’t have someone like Brad to rein me in back then,” he said.
“I’m a lot older now and more experienced and realise what it takes to be a consistent complete first grader and team players, what is required of me to get picked every week and spend time on the field.
“I probably didn’t appreciate little things like that when I was 21. Kick chases and all those simple runs in the middle, yardage carries, stuff like that. It’s taken a while for me to learn and I’m still learning.
“I wish I’d had Brad when I first came to first grade. I’m here now and I’ve got to make the most of my time here.”
Now, Cartwright is operating both in his favoured edge role but also as a middle forward at times as Arthur seeks to keep his power-based tactics going over the duration of the game.
“Now we’ve got Kelma (Tuilagi) from Manly and he had a really good preseason and trials, so we need to find a way to get him onto the field,” explained Cartwright.
“I’ve played middle before, I’ve played everywhere on the field and so it’s whatever is best for the team. Brad said I might spend some time there during the season.
“We just need out best 17 each week and wherever that is, if I’m on the bench or in the team, that’s what we’re going to do.
“I think last year I had a bit more time on the field and a bit more trust in Brad and the team. I love Brad as a coach and I wish I came here earlier in my career. I think it would have been a big help to me at a younger age.
“Obviously with age and experience, spending time on the field, it’s helped me out a lot. It’s just the team, a bunch of blokes that I want to play with. You look to your left and right and you don’t want to let them down. That’s a massive part as well.”
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