An Australia national and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he played the majority of his club career with the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League, with whom his father, Eric Grothe, Senior achieved legendary status in the 1980s.
Grothe, Junior. also spent three seasons with the Sydney Roosters. Playing Grothe made his first grade debut in 1999 as a 19-year-old. Grothe returned in 2002 with the Roosters but he signalled he was back when he rejoined Parramatta in 2004.
Grothe starred that year and became a City representative in 2005.
That year he played his only Test for the Kangaroos, becoming, along with his father Eric Snr. the 8th father-son combination to represent Australia. After poor showings in the first half of the 2008 season, Grothe was dropped from first grade and replaced with teenager Tony Williams.
At the end of the 2008 campaign coach Michael Hagan told Grothe that his services were not required for the 2009 season and he has permission to find a new club With the arrival of new coach Daniel Anderson in 2009, Grothe was returned to the Eels starting lineup.
Anderson has something of a history with Grothe, having coached him as a 14-year-old in the Harold Matthews Cup back in 1995.
On 13 December 2010 Grothe announced his retirement from football after failing to overcome an injury that kept him sidelined for most of the 2010 NRL season. On 25 October 2013, Eric Grothe announced his plans to return to rugby league after being out of the NRL for 3 years. On 5 November 2013, Eric Grothe signed a one year contract with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for the 2014 NRL season.
His NRL return was hampered by injuries in 2014.
Eric writes the lyrics for their songs. Shinobi is registered on Triple J Unearthed with track "Enemy" at Number 13 in the Overall Unearthed Charts as at week ending 18 November 2007.
In November 2007, the band was snapped up by booking agent Te Harbour Agency. Junior Clubs: Mountain. Pritchard(Mounties), Eagle Vale
Career Stats: 126 career games to date scoring 61 tries
First Grade Debut: Parramatta v Cowboys, Parramatta Stadium, 10/07/99 (Road 19)
Representative Honours: 2005 City Origin Squad, 2005 Australian Kangaroos Tri Nations Touring Squad, 2006 State of Origin Series
Parramatta: 115 games, 59 Tries
NRL Grand Final: Runner up 2001 & 2009.
Grothe continued to showcase his musical talents as a regular member of the band on Channel Nine"s The NRL Footy Show.
