Bryce Cartwright contract torn up by Gold Coast Titans

Controversial NRL star Bryce Cartwright’s career is at the crossroads after the Titans confirmed his contract has been torn up.

Bryce Cartwright is done on the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast Titans have left star forward Bryce Cartwright’s NRL career at the crossroads after areeing to rip up his contract this week.

Cartwright in July walked out on the club to return to Sydney — reportedly leaving with more than $500,000 remaining on his contract.

However, that deal was terminated by the club on Thursday after the two parties agreed the time had come for them to go their separate ways.

In a statement, the Titans confirmed earlier reports from The Courier-Mail Cartwright is now free to look for a new club in Sydney.

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“In recent weeks, Bryce has indicated to the club that his preference is to continue his career in New South Wales,” the Titans’ statement claimed.

“As such, the Titans have arrived at an agreement with Bryce to release him from his contractual obligations with immediate effect which will allow him to explore his options for the 2021 season and beyond.

“Bryce arrived on the Gold Coast prior to the 2018 season and since that time has made 43 senior appearances for the Titans.

“We would like to thank Bryce for his service to the Gold Coast Titans and wish him well for the next stage of his career.”

The Courier-Mail’s report reveals Cartwright has been left “broken” by his messy separation, according to an unnamed source.

Cartwright has been unable to get his name out of the headlines in 2020 after he became the poster-boy for the group of NRL players that refused to submit to having a mandatory flu vaccine immunisation, as part of the biosecurity protocols demanded by the league and the Queensland Government’s border protection restrictions.

Bryce Cartwright is without a club for 2021.

He returned to Sydney with his family — wife Shanelle and their two children — in July after asking for special travel exemptions from the club for “personal reasons”.

He has played 43 games since moving to the Titans in 2018, but has failed to live up to the hype surrounding his high-profile move from the Panthers.

His poor efforts in defence have been highlighted several times in recent years.

However, he has also shown flashes of the player that exploded onto the first grade scene for Penrith in 2014.

It means Cartwright is potentially walking away from more than $500,000 with the star reportedly set to earn more than $450,000 next season — with some of his wages still owed to him for the remainder of the 2020 season.

Cartwright was earlier this year granted an exemption to play in the NRL, despite refusing to receive a flu immunisation.

He was granted the special exemption on “medical grounds” by Queensland’s Chief Medical Officer Jeannette Young.

His high profile stance attracted plenty of support Australian stars, including former Home And Away actor Isabel Lucas.

Before his abrupt decision to abandon the Titans’ 2020 campaign to return to Sydney, Cartwright admitted his niggling injuries, including a broken hand, were becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

“I do worry about how much longer I can keep going,” he said.

“The critics don’t see what you go through. My knees swell up and I have to get it drained all the time. That’s the price some players pay in this game.

“We get paid good money, but it’s not an easy ride.

“It’s hard mentally on me at times. But I always believe in never giving up. I will battle as long as I can until I retire.”