Eric Grothe, Sr.
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Eric Grothe is a former Australian rugby league player, a Winger who played for the Parramatta Eels and who represented New South Wales and Australia.
Grothe played 150 games for Parramatta, scoring 78 tries, many as a result of his trademark ability to break a tackle through sheer strength. He was a very powerful cover defender who frequently brought down opposing backs through his great pace and strength.
Grothe first played for the Eels in 1979, but a succession of injuries after a promising debut including three tries in one game against South Sydney meant that he was not able to show his full ability until the later part of the 1981 season, when his size and pace made him a mainstay of one of the finest backlines in the history of club rugby league in Australia. Though not given many opportunities in the 1981 grand final, he did show his class on occasions, and the following year he became who many people considered to be the best winger in the world with selection for New South Wales and then for the Australia on the 1982 Kangaroo tour. In fourteen games, admittedly with almost constant service from his inside men and against weak opposition, Grothe scored a remarkable 21 tries and set an incredible record of scoring a try in every Test he played which continued until his Test career ended in 1984.
For Parramatta that year, his brilliant try after a classic swerve from Brett Kenny in the grand final and four tries against Canberra were standout moments, and the following year after scoring 14 tries in 16 games for English club Leeds Grothe scored one of the best tries ever seen in the major preliminary semi-final against Canterbury when he ran over man after man with his great power. He also scored a fine try in the 1983 grand final and equalled his record of four tries in a match against Western Suburbs the following year. He played two Tests against England that year, but as it turned out this would be both his last Test appearance and the last injury-free season of his career.
1985 saw Grothe suffering from knee problems that prevented him touring New Zealand, but he was superb in Parramatta's end-of-season surge until they lost 0-26 to Canterbury in the preliminary final. Although he played in Parramatta's tryless grand final win in 1986 and for New South Wales, Grothe had played less than half the season and it was felt too great a risk to allow him to tour with the Kangaroos. Worse still, in 1987 Grothe, after playing for City Origin, suffered a serious knee injury and did not play at all in the second half of the season, and when he returned in 1988 it was clear he had lost considerable pace even before injury ended his season. 1989 saw Grothe used from the reserves bench at first and then briefly playing in the unfamiliar position of centre, and after playing for City Firsts he was again injured at Brookvale Oval (remarkably this was after he came on when Peter Sterling was injured!) After efforts at treating his knee failed, Grothe was advised to retire on April 13, 1990.
Although he contemplated a return with Balmain twice during 1991 and 1992, it was clear Grothe's appalling injury record would make a comeback most unlikely to be successful. However, when the best Australian team of the limited tackle era was named in 1995, Grothe shared with prop Arthur Beetson the distinction of being a unanimous choice of every judge.
Grothe's NSW State of Origin career consisted of 9 games from 1981 to 1986. In 2005 he was named one of the 25 greatest ever NSW players. With his son Eric Grothe, Jr. he is one of three father and son pairs to play State of Origin and the only pair to both play for NSW.
Eric Grothe, Jr. began to play for Parramatta in 1999.
[edit] External links
- Whiticker, Alan and Hudson, Glen; The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players (3rd edition); published 1998 by Gary Allen Pty. Ltd.; 9 Cooper Street, Smithfield, New South Wales, 2164.
- Middleton, David (editor); Rugby League 1996; published 1996 by HarperCollins Publishers, 25 Ryde Roads, Pymble, Sydney, NSW 2073
