After a career spent trying to bring Manly undone, first as a member of the Penrith pack, then as head coach of the Gold Coast and more recently during his successful stint as Paul Green's assistant at North Queensland, John Cartwright has needed only a few days of pre-season training to adopt the Sea Eagles mentality.
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Cartwright, recruited as Trent Barrett's right-hand man for 2016, pinpointed "jealousy" as the reason most fans disliked the northern beaches club, derided throughout the years as "the Silvertails" because they have been perceived as the competition's millionaires.
"I really loved my time with North Queensland, they're a fantastic club," Cartwright said. "[The reason I came to Manly is because there's] probably a little bit more responsibility, we don't have as many coaches on staff. It's a club, whilst a lot of people say they don't like Manly, that's normally born out of jealously ... they're a really tough club, very resilient.
"I had a few options at the end of last year and one was to stay at Townsville, but after talking to 'Baz' [Barrett] the bottom line for me was it's a club I have always admired and really respected as a player and a coach. From the outside looking in, people either love or hate Manly. There always seems to be some sort of drama, but the team always performs."
Cartwright said he was pleased to work alongside Barrett in the former international's debut season as a head coach. He said the 37-year-old had all the characteristics required to be a success.
"I've known Trent for a long time," Cartwright said. "He's a very cool customer and he knows the game very well and he treats men as men, and I think they're the three ingredients you need as coach.
"My job is to support him as best as I can and I know he's the sort of guy who I can offer my opinion ... Whether he takes it or he doesn't, there'll be no hard feelings, that's exactly how 'Greeny' [Paul Green] was at the Cowboys.
"Sometimes they take your advice, sometimes they don't, but the thing is it's an open forum and I'm sure there'll be plenty of good conversations."
Cartwright said he welcomed the opportunity to renew his acquaintance with Manly powerbroker Bob Fulton – whom he played under in the 1990 Kangaroos tour of Britain and France – because he had had a strong influence on him as a young player. "He's been working very hard behind the scenes," he said. "He's a club legend, 'Bozo', and I was fortunate to have played under him and toured with him on a Kangaroo tour and World Cup tour.
"My relationship goes back as far as my father who managed him in a state team back in the '60s. It's great to catch up with him.
"I'm a student of the game and I know exactly what he's done in the game. As a kid he was someone I idolised ... I'm very fortunate to be able to work with him now."
Cartwright, the new assistant coach/recruitment manager, forms part of the new coaching platform at Manly that includes head coach Barrett, assistant coach Anthony Seibold and head of physical performance Dan Ferris, formerly with the Titans.
