PARRAMATTA legend Eric Grothe Snr has broken his silence on having his Leagues Club membership suspended, saying he wants nothing to do with the club where he won four premierships until the current board quits.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Telegraph, Grothe slammed the board headed by former premiership-winning teammate Steve Sharp by calling the political agenda within the club “disgusting”.
Parramatta Eels legends Brett Kenny and Eric Grothe Snr. Source: News Limited
Grothe had his Leagues Club membership suspended after he and four other officials were recommended for disciplinary action following a damning Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing report.
The report revealed details about the former Test and Origin star selling meat trays from his personal business to the club while he was a board member.
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Grothe has denied any fault though, instead pushing blame on the board for losing his declaration forms.
“They’ve pushed me away from the Leagues Club, so it’s just easier for me to walk away from the club,” Grothe fired.
“At the moment I don’t feel welcome so I’ll stay away.
“There is hope for the future, but I don’t want anything to do with the club while the current regime is there.
“There’s such a political stench in the joint that it disgusts me completely.
“I can’t bare it anymore.
“I’m obviously not welcome there and according to the investigation there are some issues there, but I know the truth and I know what’s happened.
“They are missing some of the declaration forms that I signed early in the piece and they can’t find it, so it looks like it has been underhanded and I haven’t disclosed it to the members.
“It’s ridiculous.”
Grothe said he was particularly upset with being banned from the Leagues Club, a place where he celebrated most of the greatest achievements in his stellar career.
“My Leagues Club membership is gone, so I can’t walk into the place unless someone signed me in,” he said.
“It leaves a bad taste and it just shows how the human element can be thrown out the window because of the politics and egos.
“I have so many fond memories of the Leagues Club, especially after the grand finals, so it hurts to be banned from there.
“They obviously don’t want me there and that hurts, but I know there are no dramas.”
Replies
that better NOBz?
The guy is ruining the great legacy he built at the club, he forgets him and his son couldn't get out of here quick enough when he signed with the Rorters. His membership has been suspended while a investigation is taking place not sure what he is whinging about???? If he has done nothing wrong he will get it back i'm sure.
This is very unfortunate for Eric Grothe. He speaks so passionately about the politics and the egos of current regime but does not mention the alleged 100+ fraudulent memberships created by the previous regime he was in bed with. Allegedly creating over 100 memberships to ensure you remain in power, that act is the definition of ego and self interest. To make it more embarrassing for them they didn't even get back in.
Eric Grothe is a legend of our club and always will be. But while he was an outstanding player and by all accounts an even better bloke it seems he is a poor judge of character. I'm afraid that if Eric is not going to come back to the club while the current regime is involved he will be staying away for a very very long time. Steve Sharp and his team are doing an outstanding job under difficult circumstances and will have my vote while this continues to be the case.
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