After police obtained a restraining order to shield his anti-vaxxer ex-wife, NRL player Bryce Cartwright will appear before a Sydney court this week.
Early in the previous year, only a few months after rejecting a $450,000-per-season deal with the Gold Coast Titans, Cartwright divorced his ex-wife Shanelle.
In September 2020, the 27-year-old forward and Shanelle, the mother of his two children, returned to New South Wales, claiming personal reasons. He now represents the Parramatta Eels.
On Shanelle’s behalf, police have requested an apprehended violence order against Cartwright, who is scheduled to appear in Waverley Local Court on Thursday.
According to an interim injunction, Cartwright is prohibited from harming any of her animals or damaging her property, and he also has to refrain from stalking, harassing, or intimidating his ex-partner.
There are no pending criminal accusations against Cartwright.
The Daily Telegraph said that sources characterised the event that prompted the AVO request as a “domestic disagreement” that was not violent in any manner.
In 2020, vaccination-related opinions held by the ex-couple, which were mostly aired on social media, were roundly denounced by health professionals.
The separation was a “personal situation,” according to Cartwright’s agent Allan Gainey of Pinnacle Sports Management at the time.
Gainey remarked in January of last year, “Look, the kid is in a good situation right now and I want to keep him in that spot.”
He doesn’t need publicity pertaining to his private life.
Cartwright and Shanelle received a lot of threats on social media for their divisive position on vaccines, which raised questions about Cartwright’s mental health.
Some of the threats included hurting the young children of the marriage.
Cartwright said at the time, “At some point, it does take a toll.” I sometimes talk to a counsellor simply to get my thoughts straight.
I like doing little things like meditation, which can be as easy as going for a swim, putting away my phone, or bringing the kids to the park.
Despite declining a required influenza vaccine, Cartwright, an outstanding Penrith junior before making his first-team debut in 2014, was given clearance to continue playing in the NRL in May 2020.
When the Covid epidemic was at its worst, the NRL included that immunisation in its return-to-play policies.
Queensland’s chief medical officer, Jeannette Young, approved the Titans’ request for a medical exemption.
When Cartwright and his wife publicly said they would not vaccinate their young children, they caused a stir.
The pair preferred the term “pro-choice” than “anti-vax.”
After a promising start to his career with the Panthers, Cartwright was once seen as a potential NSW State of Origin player. In 2018, Cartwright joined the Titans to work with former coach Garth Brennan.
He only appeared in three games for Gold Coast in 2020 before joining Parramatta, where he appeared in 19 games the previous season.
Cartwright has played seven times for the Eels so far this season, including a cameo in a 36-20 victory against Manly on Friday night.