Eric Grothe Sr.

Eric "Guru" Grothe Sr. (born 6 January 1960 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, and 1980s. A New South Wales and Australian representative winger , he played club football for the Parramatta Eels with whom he won four NSWRL premierships. Since retiring, Grothe has been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century

Grothe's size, speed and trademark ability to break a tackle through sheer strength enabled him to perfectly book-end Parramatta's star studded backline of the early 1980s outside Brett Kenny, Mick Cronin, Peter Sterling and Steve Ella. Along with dual union and league international Ray Price, these stars formed the nucleus of a side which dominated the New South Wales Rugby League premiership between 1981 and 1986, playing in five Grand Finals, winning four (1981, 1982, 1983, 1986), as well as finishing runner up in 1984 and third in 1985.

Known as "the Guru" due to his long locks and beard in his playing years, as well as his hobby of meditation, he all up played 150 first grade career games for Parramatta, scoring 78 tries. Unfortunately, his club and representative career was restricted by recurring knee injuries.