New recruit Bryce Cartwright relishing settled role at Titans but warns ‘I’m still finding my feet’

BIG-MONEY recruit Bryce Cartwright has appealed for Gold Coast fans to keep the faith, admitting it will take time for him to adjust to a new tactical role at the Titans.

Bryce Cartwright is ready to make an impact with the Titans.

BIG-MONEY recruit Bryce Cartwright has appealed for Gold Coast fans to keep the faith, admitting it will take time for him to adjust to a new tactical role at the Titans.

Rookie Titans coach Garth Brennan is hoping a remodelled role will extract the best of Cartwright - starting in his official Gold Coast debut against Canberra next Sunday at Cbus Super Stadium.

Blooded as a ball-playing lock on the fringes at former club Penrith, Cartwright will be deployed as a tight forward this season by Brennan, who believes his skill and size can be a potent mix in midfield.

Bryce Cartwright is ready to make an impact with the Titans.

Cartwright experienced a taste of his redefined role in the Titans’ final pre-season hitout last Saturday week, playing 70 minutes in the middle in the Coast’s 20-14 trial loss to the Warriors.

The NSW Origin hopeful struggled for impact, well contained by the Warriors defence, and he urged Titans fans not to expect instant miracles as he settles into his new life on the Gold Coast.

“To be honest, I’m still finding my feet here,” he said.

“Combinations and that sort of understanding with your teammates takes time.

“I felt I was still finding my feet at Penrith so it will take some time here and that comes with training hard and working hard.

“I can definitely do more in attack.

“I know it will take some time, I was happy to play more minutes (against the Warriors) and I’ll keep working hard.”

Bryce Cartwright runs into the Broncos during a recent trial.

At Penrith, Cartwright played 16 of his 68 games at five-eighth, a position in which he never felt truly comfortable as he alternated between the backs and the forwards.

But at the Titans, Brennan will provide stability for the 23-year-old. He is determined to keep Cartwright in the middle-third this season and that positional plan sits well with the rangy utility.

“I’m glad I won’t be in the halves,” he said.

“I feel the forwards is where I can play my best football and I like the way ‘Brenno’ plans to use me.

“I played 70 minutes in the middle (against the Warriors). I was pretty tired but I was happy that he kept me on there for that long, that will do me the world of good for round one.

“Especially with the new boys and unfamiliar faces, it was good to get a few combinations going.

“I’ve settled in pretty quickly off the field, the guys are great. It’s a lot different to Penrith, but it’s good to be here.”

Bryce Cartwright heads north after four seasons at Penrith.

Fellow off-season recruit Michael Gordon, also a former Panther, is adamant Cartwright will develop into a matchwinner on the glitter strip.

“Bryce has fitted in really well,” he said.

“He is super talented and he has only been here for a few weeks so I hope the fans are patient with him.

“The more time he has around us the better he will get. He’s learning our structures but there’s no doubt he has the talent to be a matchwinner for us.”