His uncle, James, was an administrator in the sport and Carlaw Park was named after him and his brother William served with the New Zealand Rugby Leaque Football Council.
[citation needed] The Auckland Rugby League was formed on 19 July 1909 and Carlaw was part of the organisation's first sanctioned match, captaining a City combination against the North Shore.
[citation needed] Carlaw had again played for Ponsonby during the 1910 season and was selected for Auckland, being part of the side that lost to Great Britain 52-9 and also touring Wanganui, Bluff, Invercargill, Dunedin, Napier and Dannevirke.
During the tour the captain, Arthur Francis, left to take up a professional contract with Wigan and Carlaw was appointed his replacement.
[citation needed] At the conclusion of the 1913 season Carlaw moved to a farm too far out of Auckland for him to continue to play.