John Cartwright 'ready' to add State of Origin lessons to Hull FC after career high

Hull FC's John Cartwright believes he is 'better prepared' to take a head coach role after stepping into the hot seat for the first time in ten years.

The new Black and Whites boss was the inaugural coach of Gold Coast Titans after their introduction to the NRL in 2007. He was in charge of the Queensland-based side for eight years before moving into assistant coach roles at North Queensland Cowboys, Manly Sea Eagles, and Brisbane Broncos. He also spent time at Sydney Roosters, with his first coaching role coming at hometown club Penrith Panthers.

And while he has had success as an assistant, winning the 2015 Premiership with the Cowboys and making a Grand Final at Brisbane, he is now confident he has picked up the necessary experience to make a real fist of it at Hull, with a State of Origin triumph to add this year after being involved in Michael Maguire's performance staff at New South Wales.

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"I feel like I'm way better prepared to coach a team now as a head coach than when I first started back in 2007," Cartwright, speaking to Hull Live, said. "In those early days at the Titans, we had some success, but yeah, I'm much better prepared now.

"It doesn't matter what job you do; the only way you get better is through time and experience, going through good times and bad times, and working under different coaches and just taking little bits and pieces out of them. You can't just go and copy someone as a coach. You've got to be true to yourself and your own values.

"I've been really fortunate to work with some of the best coaches in the business, and seeing how they just be them, that's the thing. I can't be a Ricky Stuart or a Des Hasler, or a Tim Sheens, I've got to be me, but I've also got to take the best parts of those guys."

He continued: "The very best coaches that I've worked with have been the best man managers. Footy is not that complicated of a game and sometimes we as coaches can overcomplicate it. There are areas where you have to be good at, but it's how you manage a group. It's a challenge to keep 30 players happy when only 17 are going to be playing first grade every week. That's the challenge as a coach, but those guys do it very well."

As well as his latest role at Brisbane, Cartwright worked on the New South Wales staff this year, with the Blues defeating Queensland in a thrilling decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Reflecting on the series and what he learned, Cartwright, still sporting his New South Wales training gear, added: "I really enjoyed it. I'm from New South Wales, so there's a genuine dislike for Queensland if you're involved in coaching, or as a former player, or just the man in the street.

"New South Wales and Queensland for three weeks of the year, just do not get on, so to see New South Wales win was one of the better feelings, but to be involved in the coaching crew, again, it's another part of your learning. I was so fortunate to be in that environment with Michael McGuire and all of the staff.

"They were all different coaches at different clubs, and then to have the very best players to work with, if you're not going in there learning things, then there's something wrong with you. I picked up so much and more about attitudes and approaches to training and the timing of things. It was just a pleasure to be involved in such a high-end environment."

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