Dud Titans buy Bryce Cartwright gets dose of reality with stint washing and vacuuming cars

Bryce Cartwright can finally appreciate being a $650,000 NRL star and the lifestyle that goes with it. It’s taken just two shifts at a Southport car wash to understand how lucky all footballers are.

Bryce Cartwright said washing cars has taught him not to take the game for granted.

Bryce Cartwright can finally appreciate being a $650,000 NRL star and the lifestyle that goes with it.

It’s taken just two shifts at a Southport car wash to understand how lucky all footballers are.

The Titans second-rower has been scrubbing tyres and vacuuming out cars from 7am to 3pm then heading off to training each day.

The former Panthers forward, who was once regarded as rugby league’s next superstar forward, admits his form last year was an ‘embarrassment.’

Bryce Cartwright said washing cars has taught him not to take the game for granted.

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It’s why he sought off-season assistance from his old Panthers mentor Phil Gould and why he has so enthusiastically thrown himself into the workforce in a week every Titans player had to go out and get a job.

He says the experience at the car wash been hugely beneficial.

“There’s no perks except a small discount in the coffee shop when we get a break,” he said.

“It’s been hard work. The days are slow and you’re doing the same thing over and over.

“You’re bending over scrubbing tyres all day and I’ve stubbed my finger a couple of times.

“Rugby league training is obviously physically harder but we’re so lucky.

“You train with your mates all day doing something you love, you have lunch together, then go home to your family … and get very well paid for it.

Bryce Cartwright washing cars on the Gold Coast.

“That’s what I’m learning this week, not to take rugby league for granted.”

The manager of Hoppy’s Car wash at Southport, a business owned by former Broncos and Blues star Chris Johns, couldn’t be more impressed.

“Bryce is really working hard,” said Omkar Sineri.

“He’s treated the same as everyone else and he’s doing a nice job. It’s a pleasure having him here with the rest of our staff.”

Not that washing cars will fix his game from last season.

After joining the Titans at the beginning of the year, the 24-year-old finished up in QLD Cup and was just about everyone’s choice as the dud buy of the year.

“It was embarrassing to be honest with you,” Cartwright said.

Bryce Cartwright finished the season playing in the Queensland Cup.

“I try not to even think about it now. There’s no point. All I’ll say is I’m doing everything I can to be at my best this year on and off the field. I owe it to the Titans for having the faith in me and I owe it to my teammates.

“My only goal is to be in that starting team for round one with 11 or 12 on my back.”

The Titans couldn’t be happier with Cartwright’s attitude since returning from his off-season break.

“Obviously it’s his performances on the field that everyone wants to see, but he’s fair dinkum flying at the moment,” said coach Garth Brennan.

“It’s the best I’ve seen him since his breakout year at Penrith in 2015.

“He came back two weeks early to train and he’s now the second fittest player in the club behind Nathan Peats.”

The time he spent with Gould back in Sydney has been hugely beneficial.

Phil Gould has helped Bryce Cartwright get back on track.

We spoke on Tuesday to the Panthers general manager about the boom young forward he nurtured through the ranks at the Panthers before his career went horribly off the rails.

“I’ve known the Cartwright family over 40 years and they are very important to me,” Gould said.

“I didn’t like seeing Bryce struggle with his football this year and I didn’t want him feeling he was alone. We sat down and put a plan in place.

“I asked him to keep a diary and I go through it with him once a month. I think it’s great what the Titans are doing in finding him a job during the day.

It gives his life some balance and perspective. It’s easy for someone like me to give advice. Bryce is the one who has to take ownership and make it happen.”

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