Bryce Cartwright
Bryce Cartwright (born 15 November 1994), known by the nickname of "Carty",[2] is an Australian rugby league footballer who last played as a second-row and lock for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League (NRL). He is also well known for his outspoken stance as an opponent to vaccination and has been dubbed a 'poster boy' for the anti-vax movement.
![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | Penrith, New South Wales, Australia | 15 November 1994|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 107 kg (16 st 12 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Second-row, Lock, Five-eighth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of 22 September 2019 Source: [1] |
Cartwright previously played for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL. He has also played for New South Wales City and the World All Stars.
Early life
Cartwright was born in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
He played his junior football for St Mary's Saints before being signed by the Penrith Panthers.[3] Cartwright attended Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown.
Playing career
From 2012 to 2014, Cartwright played for the Penrith Panthers' NYC team.[4]
![](../I/m/Brycecartwright.jpg)
In April 2013, Cartwright re-signed with the Panthers on a 2-year contract.[5]
At the end of 2013, Cartwright was named at second-row in the 2013 NYC Team of the Year,[6] won the 2013 NYC Player of the Year award, played in the Panthers' 2013 NYC Grand Final win over the New Zealand Warriors [7] and played for the Junior Kangaroos.[8]
![](../I/m/Bryce_Cartwright_2014_(cropped).jpg)
2014
In Round 12 of the 2014 NRL season, Cartwright made his NRL debut for the Panthers against the Parramatta Eels off the bench in the Panthers 38-12 win at Penrith Stadium.[9] In Round 19 against the Sydney Roosters at SFS, Cartwright scored his first NRL career try in the Panthers 32-12 loss.[10] In Round 21 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Cartwright suffered a season ending ankle injury in the Panthers' 22-16 win at ANZ Stadium.[11] Cartwright finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 7 matches and scoring a try for the Panthers in the 2014 season. On 9 September 2014, Cartwright extended his contract with the Panthers from the end of 2015 to the end of 2018.[12]
2015
Cartwright finished off the 2015 season having played in 22 matches and scoring 5 tries for the Panthers.[13]
2016
In February 2016, Cartwright was named in the Panthers 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[14] In Round 5, Cartwright scored the winning try on the final siren against the Parramatta Eels at Parramatta Stadium giving the Panthers the 20-18 victory.[15] On 8 May 2016, Cartwright played for New South Wales City against New South Wales Country where he started at second-row in the 44-30 win in Tamworth.[16] Cartwright's good form during the season saw him selected in the New South Wales Blues training squad but did not make his expected origin debut.[17][18] In mid-way during the season, after the Panthers released seasoned five-eighth Jamie Soward to England and a long extended shoulder injury to rookie half Te Maire Martin, Cartwright stepped up from second-row to make the five-eighth position his own alongside boom rookie halfback Nathan Cleary, playing some exciting footy as a young halves combo to lead the Panthers into a late season finals charge.[19] On 22 September 2016, Cartwright extended his contact with Panthers to the end of the 2021 season.[20] Cartwright finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in all of the Panthers 26 matches, scoring 8 tries.[1]
2017
On 10 February 2017, Cartwright played in the 2017 All Stars match for the World All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars where he started at second-row in the 34-8 loss at Hunter Stadium.[21][22] In Round 11 against the Newcastle Knights, Cartwright suffered a knee injury during the 30-20 win at Hunter Stadium and was sidelined for 10 matches.[23] Cartwright later return for the Panthers in Round 21 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, playing off the interchange bench in the 16-8 win.[24][25] Cartwright finished his troublesome drama filled 2017 NRL season with him playing in 14 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Panthers.[26][1]
2018
On 4 February 2018, Cartwright was granted a release from his contract with the Penrith Panthers to sign with the Gold Coast Titans effectively to play under new coach Garth Brennan who previously coached the Panthers Holden Cup and NSW Cup teams with premiership winning success and had a close relationship with Cartwright. Cartwright saying his sudden signing ""I've always had a close relationship with Garth so we spoke regularly, "we spoke in October and he mentioned it to me and I didn't really think too much about it, as time went on I thought about it more and more and thought it was a great opportunity for myself to improve as a player, at the start of the year it was getting closer to the footy season and I felt as though if I was going to stay there I wasn't going to get as much time on the field, If I was to improve as a player and get to where I want to be this was the best place to do it, "I'm going to be working hard and still fighting my way into the team here and earn the respect from everyone else."[27][28] In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL season, Cartwright made his club debut for the Gold Coast Titans against the Canberra Raiders, starting at lock in the 30-28 win at Robina Stadium.[29] In round 6, Cartwright playing against his former club, Penrith Panthers with an upset 12-35 loss at Penrith Stadium. Following Gold Coast's Round 12 34-14 defeat by the Eastern Suburbs, Cartwright was demoted to reserve grade by coach Garth Brennan due to inconsistent form. Less than a day after being demoted, Cartwright broke his hand in a freak training accident and was ruled out for 3 weeks.[30][31]
2019
In early 2019 Cartwright admitted not putting in enough hard work the previous year and hoped that in the 2019 season he could atone for a disappointing 2018.[32] Cartwright made a total of 23 appearances and scored 3 tries for the Gold Coast in the 2019 NRL season as the club endured a horror year on and off the field. The Gold Coast managed to win only 4 games for the entire season and finished last claiming the Wooden Spoon.[33] In the context of Cartwright's refusal to be vaccinated, it was reported that in 2019 Cartwright missed a game with the Titans after he came down with a bout of influenza.[34]
2020
Cartwright initially refused the 2020 NRL season's mandatory flu vaccination on 'pro-choice' grounds creating a standoff with the NRL in Round 3.[35][36][37] At the time Simon Brunsdon from Fox Sports said "he's no real loss to any team".[37] Shortly before being permanently stood down from the team, Cartwright obtained medical documentation seeking an exemption from immunisation and was finally cleared to play,[38] but had missed a week of training disadvantaging him from the starting lineup.[39]
Personal life
Cartwright is the nephew of former Penrith Panthers and Salford player and former Gold Coast Titans coach, John Cartwright.[40] His wife Shanelle Cartwright is a social media influencer.[41][42]
Pregnancy and death of ex-girlfriend
On 6 March 2017, it was reported that Cartwright's ex-girlfriend of six years had become pregnant to him. The woman later claimed she was pressured into terminating the pregnancy in exchange for $50,000. Cartwright reportedly sent text messages to the woman when he discovered she was pregnant saying, "You do realise there is no way I'll be at the birth? We won't keep in contact at all".[43][26] Lou Zivanovic, who has links with the Panthers, was hired by Cartwright as a 'fixer' to assist with this personal matter.[44][22] The woman went on to say "I felt I had no other option than to get rid of the baby, the pressure was relentless". She went on further to say, "I was bullied by Bryce and Lou. They showed no compassion toward the baby and me".[43][26]
The same ex-girlfriend had previously been charged with stalking him in December of 2016 but the charges were subsequently dismissed. On 2 August 2017 she was found dead at her home in Western Sydney, and according to the police report her death was not believed to be suspicious. It came in the wake of Cartwright having private photos of himself being posted online which the media classified as revenge porn. She also allegedly sent explicit and threatening text messages to Cartwright.[45][46][47]
Health and vaccination dissension
Cartwright has a substantial anti-vax following on social media and has been dubbed a "poster boy" for the anti-vax movement.[49][50]
Family's alternative health views
Cartwright and his wife Shanelle reportedly suffer from "allergies and auto-immune disorders",[51] and "don't trust hospitals".[49]
Both have made statements publicly which led to the media referring to them as 'anti-vaxxers', but Cartwright rejects this term, saying he is "pro-choice, pro-informed consent and pro-medical freedom".[52] On immunisation they have been influenced by a discredited book written by American homoeopath Suzanne Humphries.[52][41] His wife believes that the coronavirus is a "scam" and in the conspiracy theory that the flu shot increases its likelihood by 36%.[53][54] Cartwright initially took some time to come around to his wife's belief that vaccines are harmful, despite the overwhelming scientific evidence contradicting this, and has now become a prominent critic of vaccines.[34][41] Cartwright's wife has questioned the manliness of NRL players who have not supported his position on vaccines.[50]
In relation to their children and immunisation Cartwright's wife has stated, "They can go to school [so far] ... if the law changes, I'll home-school before I vaccinate".[42] She has also said she will encourage her newborn go to the toilet in the garden rather than use nappies.[51]
Sports commentator Erin Molan condemned Cartwright's wife for publicly making an "incredibly dangerous" comparison between anti-vaxxers and Holocaust victims.[55] The AMA President has warned against,[42] and Gold Coast GPs have criticised the anti-vaccination messages spread by the Cartwright's saying they "don't have the right to put the rest of the public at risk either through their opinions or actions."[56] Ex-celebrities Koby Abberton, Isabel Lucas and Pete Evans rallied behind Cartwright in support of his anti-vaccination stance.[57]
2020 NRL flu-vax controversy
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the NRL brought in strict new biosecurity measures in Round 3 to protect those in the game, including a code-wide request that players be vaccinated against the flu, as "any player that has any respiratory illness... potentially will take the whole team out." Cartwright refused the vaccine, instead signing a waiver[58][59][60] on 'pro-choice' grounds.[35] He was stood down from the Titans after the Queensland Government stood by the flu vaccination measures previously agreed to by the NRL that 100% of players would be vaccinated prior to the competition restarting.[61][36] Ten days later Cartwright provided medical documentation seeking an exemption and was given a last minute reprieve from suspension.[38] NRL commentator Paul Kent said "Cartwright objected to getting the flu shot because he was pro-choice, next minute he has produced a letter from a doctor saying he had medical reasons after it became apparent that the Queensland government was not going to allow him to play... The whole thing is a cook up and anyone that can't see that is an idiot."[35] BuzzFeed reported that since entering the flu-vax standoff with the NRL Cartwright's social media following in anti-vax circles had grown substantially, and that the Bryce Cartwright Support Group on Facebook had "pivoted into general anti-vaccination campaigning" and had grown by more than 5,700 members during the standoff.[48]
References
- "Bryce Cartwright - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. 22 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019.
- Duxbury, Emma (3 May 2014). "Panthers NSW Cup defeat Warriors 36-8". Penrith Panthers. NRL. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- "Bryce Cartwright: 2nd Row". Gold Coast Titans. 28 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019.
- "Stats: Bryce Cartwright Player". rleague.com. 16 September 2013. Archived from the original on 16 September 2013.
- "Panthers re-sign talented youngsters". Penrith Panthers. NRL. 31 May 2014. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014.
- "2013 Holden Cup Team of the Year". NRL.com. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- "Bryce Cartwright Pictures - Warriors v Panthers". Zimbio.com. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- "2013 Junior Kangaroos Announced". Country Rugby League of New South Wales. 7 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019.
- "NRL Late Mail - Round 12". Penrith Panthers. NRL. 30 May 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- "Bryce Cartwright Celebrates First NRL Try Ahead of Trip to Bathurst". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- Michael Chammas (1 August 2014). "Panthers trio face season-ending injuries during bruising win over Bulldogs". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- "Panthers extend contracts for Moylan & Cartwright". Penrith Panthers. NRL. 9 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020.
- "Custom Match List - (NRL 2015-Penrith Panthers-Bryce Cartwright)". Rugby League Project. 23 October 2015. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020.
- "Panthers name Auckland Nines squad". NRL.com. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- "NRL season 2016: Penrith Panthers score two late tries to snatch victory from Parramatta Eels". Smh.com.au. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- "Young City side stun Country". NRL.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- "Penrith Pull Byrce Cartwright Out of Blues". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- Nicolussi, Christian (3 June 2016). "Bryce Cartwright Ready For Blues Audition Against Melbourne". The Courier Mail. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- "Bryce Cartwright Set to Play His Last Game at Five Eight for Penrith as Te Maire Prepares to Return". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- "Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright commit to Penrith Panthers until 2021". Smh.com.au. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- "Indigenous All-Stars Thump World All-Stars 34-8". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- Ritchie, Dean (7 March 2017). "Panther Bryce Cartwright abortion pay-off: Player's ex 'wanted extra $200K for abortion', says fixer". Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/panthers/penrith-panthers-hit-with-double-injury-whammy-with-peter-wallace-and-bryce-cartwright-both-out/news-story/962f89cebcc3477e344e062f54b3be46
- https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/panthers/penrith-panthers-timely-boost-as-bryce-cartwright-returns-from-injury/news-story/c2956c0b6c80dc903bed8b0990a093e1
- https://www.nrl.com/news/2017/07/28/defence-key-to-panthers-win/
- Weidler, Danny (14 April 2018). "Partner concerned for Cartwright's welfare on eve of return to Penrith". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020.
- AAP (4 February 2018). "Gold Coast CEO Graham Annesley reveals why Titans are taking risk on Bryce Cartwright". News.Com.Au. News Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018.
- Webeck, Tony (9 February 2018). "Bryce Cartwright opens up on telling Phil Gould of his Panthers exit and joining Gold Coast Titans". PerthNow. Seven West Media. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018.
- Webeck, Tony (11 March 2018). "Ash Taylor inspires club record comeback as Titans fight back to down Raiders". Fox Sports Australia. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- Spotal (4 July 2018). "Manly Sea Eagles poised to sign Gold Coast Titans utility Bryce Cartwright: Report". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018.
- Cadigan, Neil (15 May 2018). "Cartwight axed but may get recall if Proctor ruled out". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018.
- Bailey, Scott (16 January 2019). "'I just want to move on': Cartwright to atone for disaster". Daily Examiner. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019.
- Staff (11 September 2019). "The Titans are full of 'hot air'. Their latest blunder proves it". Fox Sports Australia. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019.
- "'Proof in pudding': Anti-vax NRL WAG defends decision to decline flu shot". News.Com.Au. News Pty Ltd. 5 May 2020. Archived from the original on 6 May 2020.
- "'The whole thing is a cook up': Kent slams Cartwright, Qld gov for 'embarrassing' anti-vax backflip". Fox Sports Australia. 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- Craddock, Robert (12 May 2020). "The government, not the NRL merchants who make rules on the run, is in charge of Queensland". The Courier Mail. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020.
- Brunsdon, Simon (12 May 2020). "NRL 2020, Round 3 teams: Boyd Cordner, Bulldogs halves, Latrell Mitchell position, biggest questions". Fox Sports Australia. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020.
- Dobeson, Shanee (14 May 2020). "Titans Bryce Cartwright granted exemption to play without flu jab". myGC.com.au. 1029 Hot Tomato Radio. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020.
- Jackson, Ed; AAP (22 May 2020). "Bryce Cartwright's vaccination stance could come at cost". The New Daily. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- Ryan, Nathan (11 February 2014). "Can Bryce Cartwright live up to the lofty expectations of his own family name?". News.Com.Au. News Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 9 May 2020.
- Kent, Paul (8 May 2020). "NRL 2020: Anti-vaxxer saga highlights NRL's stupidity". Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020.
- Pedrana, Lydia (12 February 2019). "Medical experts worried after Bryce Cartwright's wife promotes anti-vaccination on social media". Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020.
- "Bryce Cartwright allegedly involved in deal to pay woman $50,000 to have an abortion". News.Com.Au. News Pty Ltd. 5 March 2017. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017.
- Tabakoff, Nick (11 May 2020). "Gus Gould, the fixer Lou Zivanovic, and the Panthers' sex scandal". The Australian. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020.
- Lambert, Olivia (3 August 2017). "Brittany Hura, ex-girlfriend of NRL star Bryce Cartwright, found dead in Western Sydney home". Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020.
- "Kiwi ex-girlfriend of NRL star Bryce Cartwright, Brittany Hura found dead inside her home". Newshub NZ. MediaWorks TV. 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019.
- Houghton, Jack (13 December 2016). "Bryce Cartwright Caught in Revenge Porn Pain". Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- Gleeson, Peter (17 May 2020). "Anti-vaxxer Bryce Cartwright outsmarted the NRL and Queensland Government". The Courier Mail. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 20 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- Tiernan, Eamonn (14 May 2020). "Gold Coast anti-vaxxer Bryce Cartwright's wife promotes NRL player revolt". 7NEWS. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- Forsey, Zoe (12 February 2019). "Why mum is refusing to vaccinate kids - and they'll have to go to the toilet in the garden". mirror.co.uk. MGN Ltd. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- Hansen, Jane (8 May 2020). "Now footy players join the covidiot anti-vaxxers". The Sunday Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020.
- Matthey, James (9 May 2020). "NRL: Bryce Cartwright's wife hits out again in vaccination storm as more players speak up". Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- RMIT (15 May 2020). "There's no evidence the flu shot increases your chances of getting COVID-19". ABC Fact Check. ABC News. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- "Erin Molan condemns NRL WAG's 'incredibly dangerous' Holocaust post on Instagram". News.Com.Au. News Pty Ltd. 10 May 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020.
- Payne, Kirstin (10 May 2020). "Gold Coast Titans: Doctor's warning over flu jab after NRL players stood down". Gold Coast Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020.
- Nsenduluka, Mibenge (11 May 2020). "Anti-vax debate: Koby Abberton latest to back Bryce Cartwright". The Courier Mail. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020.
- Walshaw, Nick (5 May 2020). "Titans star Bryce Cartwright opposes NRL flu shot policy". The Australian. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020.
- Staff (4 May 2020). "Titans anti-vaxxer rejects mandatory NRL shot". Wide World of Sports. Nine Digital Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 May 2020.
- Omnisport (11 May 2020). "Coronavirus: Flu vaccine NRL's decision in New South Wales". Yahoo Sports. Yahoo News Network. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020.
- Tiernan, Eamonn (12 May 2020). "NRL anti-vaxxers given simple ultimatum to play in 2020". 7NEWS. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020.