Preliminary Semi-Finals
Eels 30 d. Canterbury 22

1983 J J GILTINAN SHIELD AND WINFIELD CUP Index [Table] [Draw]

Location: Australia > New South Wales > First Grade Competition: J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup

Eels v Bulldogs Classic - Grothe beats five
Tue September 11, 2007
Parramatta's 30-22 victory in the opening week of the 1983 Winfield Cup finals may not look like anything spectacular on paper, but it did produce one of the most freakish moments in the game's history courtesy of Eric Grothe.

Welcome to our 2nd installment of five classic finals moments between traditional rivals Canterbury and Parramatta with today's feature a tribute to Eric Grothe (Senior).

Manly finished the 1983 season as runaway minor premiers finishing eight points clear of both Parramatta and Canterbury. The difference though between Manly and Parramatta and the rest of the competition was detailed in the for and against percentags. Manly finished with +329 and Parramatta's difference was +346. Canterbury's on the other hand was +122, 4th place Balmain was +87 and the two teams who fight it out for 5th position - St George +101 and Easts +87. Just that stat alone showed how wide the gap was between the top two sides and the rest of the premiership as Warren Ryan would highlight has he came into the Bulldogs fold for the following season.

St George defeated Easts in the play off for 5th position and in the Minor Preliminary Semi Final the scores were locked at 14-all after full time. With two minutes remaining in extra time the Dragons received a penalty following an incident involving Garry Jack and Steve Morris where Steve Gearin landed an important penalty goal to get the Dragons home in a thriller as they won their 7th successive match.

In the Major Preliminary Semi Final the next day Parramatta took on Canterbury in what was shaping up as an entree for bigger things to come in their rivalry. The Eels led 6-0 following an early Brett Kenny try as the 25th minute approach. This match was about to put itself into Rugby League folklore when Grothe showed his true greatness and how on his day he was the most destructive player in the game.

Grothe received the ball from an offload 40m out from the Canterbury line and 10m in from the right hand touchline. He proceeded to run slightly across field where he first beat Bulldogs front rowers John Coveney and Geoff Robinson and from there he was unstoppable shrugging off Garry Hughes, Steve Folkes and Chris Mortimer as they never existed and only Steve Mortimer could get any form of tackle on Grothe as he was scoring the try. The magnitude and greatness of Grothe's try can be highlighted by the fact of the players he beat weren't exactly your worst tacklers in the game and both Folkes and Chris Mortimer forged strong reputations for their defence over a long period of time.

It was the piece of Rugby League brilliance that defined the career of Grothe and what he's best remembered for. Grothe did score destructive and long range powerhouse tries for New South Wales and Australia and even scored a blockbusting try in a Grand Final. However, it's this one moment in the 25th minute of a non-elimination semi final where a grand final position wasn't up for grabs that sums Grothe's career where when he wasn't injured he would make great defenders like Folkes, Chris Mortimer, Coveney, Robinson and Garry Hughes look second rate.

Soon after Grothe's try Parramatta scored again to lead 18-0 through halfback Peter Sterling.

Canterbury hit back with tries to Robinson and Andrew Farrar to reduce the margin to 18-10 and than a trademark intercept to Kenny saw the champion pivot cross for his second try.

Replacement winger Tony Armstong crossed over and than a magical chip and chase effort from Steve Mortimer saw Canterbury reduce the margin to just two points.

Parramatta sealed victory in the final moments when replacement Will Harris scored with the Eels winning 30-22.

The following week saw Canterbury emerge narrow 26-24 victors against St George and Manly out did the Eels 19-10.

In the Preliminary Final Parramatta were once again too good for the Bulldogs winning 18-4 and the Eels made it three Premierships in a row defeating Manly 18-6 in the Grand Final. The Sea Eagles of 1983 were one of the most dominant sides of all-time not to win the Premiership.

For all of the spectacular football played during the 1983 finals, the most talked about and replayed moment is Grothe's spectacular 40m dash in the opening week against the Bulldogs. To this day it's still one of the all-time great tries from a winger who was one of the best ever and would have been the best ever if it wasn't for injuries.

Tomorrow's finals moment takes a look at a Preliminary Final between the two clubs and the great 'personal' achievement that occured in that match.

Click here to watch the try

If anyone has a colour Parramatta picture of Eric Grothe Snr for the header image it would be much appreciated, email matthew@rleague.com

Parramatta Eels 30
Tries: Kenny 2, Grothe, Sterling, Harris
Goals: Cronin 5
Team: David Liddiard, Neil Hunt, Michael Cronin, Steve Ella, Eric Grothe, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Ray Price, Steve Sharp, Stan Jurd, Paul Mares, Steve Edge [c], Geoff Bugden. Subs: Chris Phelan, John Muggleton, Will Harris. Coach: Jack Gibson.

Defeated Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 22
Tries: Farrar, Robinson, Armstong, S.Mortimer
Goals: Armstrong 3
Team: Chris Mortimer, Chris Anderson [c], Andrew Farrar, Peter Mortimer, Ross Conlon, Garry Hughes, Steve Mortimer, Steve Folkes, Tas Baiteri, Mick Pitman, Geoff Robinson, Billy Johnstone, John Coveney. Subs: Tony Armstrong, Paul Langmack. Coach: Ted Glossop.

Eels v Bulldogs Classic Finals:
1984 - Bugden Will Score (Monday)
1983 - Grothe Beats Five (Tuesday)
1998 - Polly's Finest Hour (Wednesday)
1986 - Grand exit for Pricey and the Crow (Thursday)
1979 - Triple Mortimer Magic (Friday)

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