Eric Grothe Sr. (born 6 January 1960), also known by the nickname "Guru", is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. A New South Wales and Australian representative , 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 Background Grothe was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Career highlights 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. Grothe represented for Australia in eight Tests between 1982 and 1984 and made the 1982 Kangaroo Tour. He had nine State of Origin appearances for New South Wales between 1981 and 1986. Year by year 1978 Rookie Grothe graduated from Liverpool Boys High School, the same school as another Australian international, Geoff Gerard. He played his junior football for East Mt. Pritchard, alongside Steve Ella. In 1978, Grothe was named as Parramatta's Rookie of the Year at age 18, scoring 16 tries in 17 matches in the Eels Under-23 Presidents Cup team. 1979 1st Grade He débuted in first grade 1979, however after a promising start which included three tries in one game against South Sydney, a succession of injuries meant that he was not able to show his full ability until the 1981 season. 1981 Premiership & Origin Grothe showed his class in Parramatta's first premiership title year in 1981 and launched his representative career in the sole New South Wales v Queensland game played that year under the State of Origin rules. He scored two tries in his début for the Blues at