Gold Coast coach John Cartwright has stepped down as assistant coach of the NSW State of Origin team to concentrate on the struggling NRL club.

Cartwright rang Blues boss Ricky Stuart on Sunday to tell him he needed to focus on the Titans, who are second last on the NRL ladder after just three wins from their 12 games.

The 23-10 home loss to Penrith on Saturday night was the club's fourth straight defeat.

"I've just decided that it was probably a little bit too much to be away with where we are at the moment," Cartwright said.

"I just probably wouldn't be able to get my head around being involved in the NSW team."

Cartwright has been a long-time offsider to Stuart, the pair first teaming up at the Sydney Roosters in the club's premiership-winning year of 2002.

The former Test second-rower's decision mirrors that of ex-Queensland assistant Neil Henry last year, although the North Queensland mentor made his call at the beginning of the season.

"My priority has always been here and none of us ever intended for us to be in this situation but if anything I'm excited by it," Cartwright said of the Titans' struggles.

"I think it's a challenge, we haven't been in these waters before and we're halfway through the season and looking to finish the back end of the year on a high.

"I just don't think I could've got my head around being down there while the side was up here working hard."

The Blues lost assistant Andrew Johns mid-series in 2010 after the infamous racism row with winger Timana Tahu.

The news on Cartwright came as Stuart was dealing with an injury crisis ahead of Wednesday week's State of Origin II clash with Queensland at ANZ Stadium.

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