Now Grothe wants to go
March 21, 2007 12:00
THE rugby league world may be in for another shock defection with Parramatta winger Eric Grothe today claiming he was keen on joining Eels teammate Timana Tahu in rugby union next year.
Tahu signed a four-year deal with the ARU and NSW Waratahs last night, and talks are now underway to lure Grothe across to the 15-man game as well.
Grothe, off contract at the end of the season, said the prospect of playing rugby union was "definitely enticing", the 27-year-old former Test winger having already met with Wallabies coach John Connolly.
"I've met John Connolly once and had a coffee with him ... they seemed very keen and positive. The whole thing went really well," Grothe said today.
"It wasn't very specific. It was more of a meet and greet kind of thing.
"There's been interest from some other (NRL) clubs and the ARU and I just want to hurry up and finalise it all.
"It's definitely enticing (the idea of playing rugby union), it's a bit of a rap for them to be interested in you, it shows that they see something in you that maybe other places don't. It's a buzz."
On the possible signing of Grothe, Connolly said; "I think he'd go very well as winger."
The loss of Grothe would be a third straight coup for rugby union over rugby league, Tahu's defection coming just a week after dual international Lote Tuqiri turned down an offer to come back to the NRL with South Sydney.
The Grothe name is synonymous with rugby league, his father Eric senior having played eight Tests for Australia in the early 1980s.
Grothe's manager Andrew Purcell said he had already held discussions with the Waratahs, but both he and Grothe said staying in NSW was not imperative.
"We're still awaiting a formal offer from the ARU," Purcell said.
"We've only spoken with NSW at the moment, but as of today we've had interest from other provinces.
"I think everyone but maybe the (Western) Force have opportunities to strengthen the outside backs."
Purcell said he hoped to follow up on interest from the other provinces when he returned from a business trip.
Grothe, who played his one and only Test in 2005, said he wanted to have his future sorted out by the end of the month.
He hopes to return to the paddock for next weekend's clash with Wests Tigers, having missed Parramatta's season-opening loss to the New Zealand Warriors because of an ankle injury.
"I'd also love to stay at Parra, but I just want to make sure. It may be one of my last contracts so I've got to make it a good one," he said.
"It's different now to when I was 19, I've got a mortgage and all that stuff.
"I'm just going to make sure I do it right.
"I'd like to wrap it up as soon as possible, I don't want to carry on with it, a bit like Timana, I'd just like to get it done and forget about it and concentrate on what's ahead which is Parra for the rest of the year.
"I'm open to speak to anyone. I've spoken to a few people and things are looking good."
The Eels have tabled an offer but have not put a deadline on negotiations.
