A slew of high-priced players, including Jamal Idris and Nate Myles have been recruited to give the club a much needed boost.
Idris (signed on a five-year address) and Myles (four years) were among the seven players showcased by the Titans at their Skilled Park headquarters at Robina on Wednesday.
"We can't pretend last year didn't happen," said Cartwright of a season in which they lost 18 of their 24 games and finished the year with the worst defensive record of any team in the NRL.
"We have to learn from it - make sure it never happens again."
Cartwright was careful not to make any bold premiership predictions or promises but said the club's expectations remained as high as ever.
The Gold Coast coach was excited about the prospect of winning back Titans' fans who had little to celebrate last season.
"It's a very fine line between top and bottom in the NRL and not many clubs could put so many new guys on the stage as we have today, so I'm genuinely excited to see what these guys and the guys
left from last year can bring out in each other."
Titans boss Michael Searle says the money spent on recruiting strike players like Idris is one of the best decisions the club had made.
