McCarthy, a Queensland junior representative, was a foundation player for the Gold Coast in the
1988 NSWRL season, coming off the bench in the team’s inaugural match, a 21-10 loss to the
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at
Seagulls Stadium. Then known as Gold Coast-Tweed, the club was coached by his father, Australian former representative
Bob McCarthy. From 1988 to 1993, McCarthy made 45 first-grade appearances for the Gold Coast, mostly as a centre and full-back. During his time with the Gold Coast he also had a stint in England playing for
Hull Kingston Rovers, in the
1991–92 Championship. He has an elder brother,
Darren McCarthy, who played for South Sydney and Canterbury. His coaching career includes a
Queensland Cup premiership with the
Tweed Heads Seagulls to 2007. ==References==