Injured Panther Te Maire Martin could push Bryce Cartwright back into the forwards in 2017

PENRITH are keeping where Bryce Cartwright will play in 2017 a mystery as Anthony Griffin looks to squeeze injured Kiwi international Te Maire Martin back into his side.

Bryce Cartwright could find his way back into the forwards in the 2017 season. Pic: Gregg Porteous

KIWI international Te Maire Martin’s development will determine where fellow young gun Bryce Cartwright plays for Penrith next season.

Panthers boss Phil Gould believes the 22-year-old Cartwright is ready to take his game to a “whole different level” in 2017.

But what that level involves remains the big question with Anthony Griffin still not sure if the towering Panther will be staying at five-eighth or moving into the back row.

SOS: The man that can save NRL from civil war

Bryce Cartwright could find his way back into the forwards in the 2017 season. Pic: Gregg Porteous

While most experts believe Cartwright’s future is in the forwards, Griffin told The Daily Telegraph a lot would depend on how well Martin returned from the shoulder injury that cut short his rookie year.

Martin toured with New Zealand to the Four Nations but the 21-year-old was only given limited minutes in the one match against Scotland.

“The only reason (Martin) didn’t continue playing five-eighth for us through the middle of the year was injury,” Griffin said.

“So that injury cost him a lot of games, it wasn’t form that left him out of the side.

Te Maire Martin could return to the Penrith halves following a shoulder injury. Pic: Gregg Porteous

“He will be a year older but it will come down to how he trains and trials.

“But the good thing about Bryce is that he is such a great team man. He will do whatever is the best thing for the team.

“I am not going to put any expectations on him.

“He is 22 and has played about 40 NRL games. A lot of people underestimate that. He is still learning.

“Where it best suits the team and his skill set at the time, that is where he will end up. That is about as far as I am looking to be honest.

“I think that is the unique thing about Bryce. He can play anywhere.

“We made two semi-finals last season with him playing in the halves. Obviously he can play back row. Like I said, whatever suits the team best.”

Gould certainly didn’t hold back with his praise of Cartwright’s attitude during pre-season training.

Cartwright spent the back half of the season playing five-eighth for the Panthers

“Easily our best trainer this summer so far has been Bryce Cartwright,” Gould told EON Sports Radio last week.

“Everyone has seen the talent that he is. He has had a couple of years in first grade now but to me, physically, he looks to have gone up to a whole different level.

“So we are very excited about what he might do.”

Griffin said Cartwright had grown as a player because of his experience playing in the halves.

“Last season defending in the halves helped him with his defence,” Griffin said.

“He obviously made a few errors but he certainly improved his defence as the year went on and I think that will only help him, the fact that he spent some time in the halves.”