Put Eels ahead of board: Grothe Jr

Former Parramatta winger Eric Grothe Jr has called for the NRL club’s five under-fire board members and officials to stand down, labelling their current stance as “pure ego”.

Chairman Steve Sharp, chief executive John Boulous, head of football Daniel Anderson, deputy chairman Tom Issa and director Peter Serrao have secured a NSW Supreme Court injunction against the NRL move to deregister them over the salary cap scandal, keeping their jobs until at least Friday.

However NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has made clear the club will be unable to play for points until all matters in the breach notice are dealt with, which includes the removal of the five officials.

And now Grothe has demanded they remove themselves from the club before further pursuing their own legal matter.

“Eels Board members & officials should stand down THEN take the matters to court,” Grothe posted on social media.

“Remove yourself first & foremost so points can be played for.”

Grothe played 138 matches for the Eels, scoring 65 tries while also representing Australia and NSW while at the club.

He has a long association with the Eels, with his father Eric Grothe a club legend who won four premierships at Parramatta during the 1980s.

“I can’t imagine sleeping at night if staying put meant zero points on offer,” Grothe continued.

“That’s putting personal issues before the club. Pure ego.”

The Eels’ lawyer argued on Tuesday night the five officials had taken the matter to the Supreme Court because the NRL had imposed the sanctions without applying procedural fairness, giving them little notice of their intentions.

Given their professional reputations are on the line, the outcome looms as vital in each of the officials’ careers.

“It is regrettable that the NRL determined to make a public statement about these matters and impose penalties without hearing from the club first,” a club statement read.

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