Eric misses the big picture
Article from: The Daily Telegraph
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By Ray Chesterton
February 04, 2008 12:00am
PARRAMATTA'S star winger Eric Grothe was forced to forego his chance to be immortalised in one of the most historic rugby league pictures ever taken.
A prior commitment prevented Grothe from being in the Parramatta squad on the weekend as part of a unique gathering of all first graders from all clubs to launch the centenary of the game in Australia.
Grothe was at ANZ Stadium on Saturday with the Parramatta squad but left before the picture was taken.
He is obviously absent in the photo.
Grothe's manager Andrew Purcell from Elite Sports Properties says his client was caught in a difficult position because of a prior engagement of several months standing.
"It (Grothe's early departure) was already cleared with the coaching staff," Purcell said.
"He had permission to take off a little early. He went out and did what was required of him."
NRL CEO David Gallop said he thought Grothe would, in time, be sorry he missed the photograph.
"When he sees the uniqueness of the photograph and its place in the history of the game I think he will be regretful," he said.
The fan day to celebrate the start of the 100th rugby league season in Australia, was such an outstanding success it may find a permanent role in future programming.
Not every year. The logistics are too complex for that. But the NRL is now looking at ways to make it a regular event.
"I thought it was a brilliant day," Gallop said. "It was fun for fans to be so close to the players.
"And it must have been good for the fans to see so much camaraderie in the player ranks even though they will be playing their hardest against each other in a few weeks."
More than 25,000 fans registered for the big day but rain and threatening weather cut the numbers.
"We'll look into staging another fan day," Gallop said. "But it is a huge exercise and costs a lot of money. So it won't be next year."
Gallop said it was not just supporters who enjoyed the day. Coaches and players seemed to enjoy swapping opinions.
"For coaches it was a chance to talk away from the heat of battle and I heard some of the players chatting.
"It sounded like a school re-union."
