One of the rugby league’s greatest players, Eric Grothe, has opened up on the issues that have plagued his life and career in a raw interview.
The 64-year-old, who won four grand finals with the Parramatta Eels and played nine Origins for NSW, is regarded as one of the best wingers the sport has seen.
Grothe was a pivotal part of the blue and gold outfit’s dominance through the 1980s and became a cult hero among the club’s fans and the sport’s wider audience.
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However, in a new interview on the podcast Andy Raymond Unfiltered, he opened up on the issues that saw him fake injuries to escape playing games for the Eels.
“It was like there were two faces – there was one that was in the public domain and there was the other one that was in the private domain,” Grothe explained.
Eric Grothe Sr. at an Eels game. Getty
“The ego was running riot. I was considered in public a pretty mild-mannered type of guy, but I had this big ego … but I played football in a scared way. It felt like I was little.
“I just had no self-esteem, I started faking injuries. I didn’t want to play. I could have played a lot more games. I had no self-esteem at all to be better at what I was doing.
“There were a number of games I pulled out of on Sunday morning.”
Grothe’s knees would become a factor as his career progressed, with the legend revealing he was “a little bit happy” when his final injury occurred.
The retired star also revealed his use of drugs – both during his career and after hanging up the boots – before turning a corner in recent years.
“I did have some drugs when I was playing, every now and then I’d partake in some during the footy season, in the off-season a little bit more,” Grothe said.
“I never really escaped myself. You try to run away from yourself. You make excuses. I supposed having a smoke takes away from having to deal with it.
“I did cocaine pretty heavily there for a little while [after retiring]. I got in some dark places. It was a period of time there where it was an introvert thing. Cocaine I’d have by myself, in my own room, that led me to doing some stupid things.
“It’s only the last four years I snapped out of that and woke up to myself.”
Grothe also admitted to “breaking up his family” in the 1990s after splitting up with his wife, but thanked his sons Eric Jr and Daniel for their support.
Eric Grothe Jr in action for the Eels. Getty
“Eric Jr has been a wonderful rock for me, I told him everything,” he said.
“He didn’t judge. He’s done some things in his time as well. He was good and my younger son Daniel too. They’ve both been fantastic.”
Grothe was named among the official list of Australia’s 100 Greatest Players in 2008 – the same year he was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.