A New South Wales State of Origin representative five-eighth, in Australia he played for and captained the Penrith Panthers, with whom he won the 1991 NSWRL 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.