Eric Grothe Jr

Eric Grothe Jr.

Grothe playing for Parramatta in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Eric Raymond Grothe
Nickname	Guru
Born	(1980-03-15) 15 March 1980 (age 37) Sydney, New South Wales
Playing information
Height	194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–01 Parramatta Eels 15 7 0 0 28 2002–03 Sydney Roosters 11 2 0 0 8 2004–10 Parramatta Eels 116 58 0 0 232 Total 142 67 0 0 268 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2005 City Origin 1 0 0 0 0 2006 New South Wales 3 2 0 0 8 2005 Australia 1 1 0 0 4
Source: NRL Stats

Eric Raymond Grothe (born 15 March 1980) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer 2000s and 2010s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australia national representative winger, he played in the National Rugby League, largely for Sydney club, Parramatta Eels, with whom his father, Eric Grothe Sr., achieved legendary status in the 1980s. Grothe Jr. also spent three seasons with the Sydney Roosters, and at the end of his career was contracted to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Grothe, who was born in Sydney, New South Wales, played for junior clubs Mt. Pritchard (Mounties) and Eagle Vale. In 1999 he made his NRL debut for the Parramatta Eels as a 19-year-old against the North Queensland Cowboys at Parramatta Stadium in round 19.

Grothe returned in 2002 with the Roosters but he signalled he was back when he rejoined Parramatta in 2004. Grothe starred that year and became a City representative in 2005. At the 2005 Dally M Awards he was named winger of the year. At the end of the season Grothe played his only Test for the Kangaroos, becoming, along with his father, Eric, Snr., the 8th father-son combination to represent Australia when he played on the wing in a one-off match in France.

Grothe was selected to play for New South Wales on the wing in all three games of the 2006 State of Origin series, scoring two tries in Game 3.

After poor showings in the first half of the 2008 season, Grothe was dropped from first grade and replaced with teenager Tony Williams. At the end of the 2008 campaign coach Michael Hagan told Grothe that his services were not required for the 2009 season and he has permission to find a new club.