Cessnock utility star Paul Carter has re-signed with the Goannas for another year despite interest from rivals, declaring he owes the club for showing faith in him after missing a significant chunk of the season through suspension.
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The controversial former NRL forward, who returns on Sunday in the final round against Central following a five match suspension for referee abuse, has bought a house in Adamstown and will become a father in January with his partner Elise Horscroft expecting their first child.
But despite the move into Newcastle “to be closer to the beach”, Carter said he never seriously contemplated not playing for the Goannas again in 2019.
“I definitely feel like I owe the club after the way this season has gone and that came into my thinking for sure,” Carter said.
“The club did the right thing by me by getting me there and giving me an opportunity and I really respect that and I want to show them that.
“I’m really confident about next year and really happy with my decision. There were other offers but for next year, staying with Cessnock was the right thing to do.”
Carter, plagued by off-field drug and alcohol behavioural issues during a chequered NRL career, says his life is back on track and he has never felt happier.
“I want people to see that I am well,”he said.
“I’ve been working on myself and I’ve been trying hard to do the right thing and I feel like I’m getting on top of that and being a good person in general.
“I’m probably the happiest I’ve been in my life. I thought I had everything when I was playing footy [in the NRL] and I guess I did but I was never really happy and I still don’t know why.
“I probably didn’t handle the stress that I felt when I was a professional player. But the big thing now is I don’t need to go outside myself anymore to find that happiness that I never had.”
Carter says there was no excuse for his foul-mouth spray which cost him a big suspension in early July.
“I know I have to work harder on staying in control and keeping my emotions in check on the field,”he said.
“I guess getting frustrated like I’ve been guilty of shows how much I care about the team and our performance but I have to focus on channeling that.
“I apologised to the referee for what was said but it’s about controlling the emotion and dealing with it in a far better way than I did.”
Carter is adamant the Goannas can turn around the disappointment of this season and seriously challenge for the title in 2019.
