No Comparison: Singo Doesn't Rate Cartwright Signing
by PAUL NEWMAN
CENTRAL COAST EXPRESS - 10/6/2004

The likely appointment of John Cartwright as coach of the proposed Gold Coast NRL team has drawn criticism from Central Coast Bears boss John Singleton.

The Gold Coast group is expected tonight to name the assistant Roosters coach as head of their team should they be accepted into the 2006 NRI competition.

It follows the recent appointment of Wan-en Ryan as coaching director of rival bidder the Bears.

Singleton said the appointment of Cartwright added little weight to the Gold Coast bid.

He said Ryan’s coaching experi ence dwarfed that of Cartwriglit’s.

“It’s like comparing a promising primary schoolboy to an honours graduate,” Singleton said.

“Warren has coached sides to five first grade grand finals and two premierships while Cartwright is just getting started.”

Ryan took Newtown to the 1981 grand final, the Bulldogs to premier- ships in 1984-85 and Balmain to the 1988-89 grand finals.

Cartwright coached lower grades at Penrith before joining the Roosters. He is assistant coach with both the Roosters and the NSW State of Origin team.

Ryan will not take the role of head coach of the Bears but will be in charge of appointing the coaching staff

Singleton and Ryan have this week been speaking with player managers to canvass who is available if the team gets the go-ahead for

2006.

Players will come on the market after the June 30 anti-tampering deadline but a decision on the admission of a 16th team to the NRL will not be made before then.

Singleton said he was frustrated by the NRL’s reluctance to make a decision on a 16th team.

It has been a month since the NRL partnership committee met, only to resolve that the issue needed further investigation.

“They have asked for revised this and that and we have answered all requests,” Singleton said.
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