A Wyong junior, Carter was graded by the Panthers in 1988. He primarily played in the five-eighth position. Carter was on the interchange bench for the Panthers first and unsuccessful Grand Final attempt in season 1990. He was the regular five-eighth in the 1991 Panthers outfit that clinched the club's first premiership. Following the grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge which was lost to Wigan.
After the turmoil at the club which upset the 1992 season and saw a number of senior players leave, Carter took over as captain, a role he maintained throughout the 1990s.[citation needed] In spite of career threatening injuries and poor form he played out the 2001 series in a successful attempt to beat Royce Simmons' record of club appearances for the Panthers. Carter previously held the standing club record of 242 first grade appearances from 1991 until the 2024 finals series where he was overtaken by Isaah Yeo.[4]
After fourteen seasons with the Panthers, Carter spent one season (2002) in the Super League with the Widnes Vikings.
Representative career
Carter played representative football for two seasons. In 1991[5] and 1992[6] he was selected for Country Origin, and Carter then made one appearance off the interchange bench for New South Wales in Game II of the 1992 State of Origin series.[7]