Matt_Eisenhuth

Matt Eisenhuth

Matt Eisenhuth

Australian rugby league footballer

Matt Eisenhuth (born 20 August 1992) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.

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He previously played for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League.

Background

Eisenhuth was born in Auburn, New South Wales, Australia.

He played his junior rugby league for the Wentworthville Magpies, before being signed by the Parramatta Eels.

Eisenhuth is the cousin of Australian international and former New South Wales State of Origin captain Paul Gallen,[3] and of current St. George Illawarra Dragons player Tom Eisenhuth.[4]

Playing career

Early career

From 2010 to 2012, Eisenhuth played for the Parramatta Eels' NYC team.[5] In 2010, he played for the Australian Schoolboys.[6] In 2013, he graduated to the Eels' New South Wales Cup team, Wenworthville Magpies.[7] Midway through 2013, he joined the Penrith Panthers,[8] after being cut by then Eels coach Ricky Stuart.[9]

In 2014, Eisenhuth overcame fears that he might not play football again, after having a tumour found in his knee. He had the tumour cut out, with the hole filled up with bone cement.[10] In 2016, he joined the Wests Tigers.[11]

2017

In round 15, Eisenhuth made his NRL debut for the Tigers against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks,[1][12] and played every remaining game of the season in first grade. After initially playing from the bench, he cemented a position starting at lock for the last 6 games of the year.

In August, Eisenhuth re-signed with the Tigers on a 2-year contract until the end of 2019.[13] He said, "For me, it was a pretty easy decision to extend my time here. This club stood by me and gave me a shot nobody else was and they rewarded me with a debut and constant first-grade, so in my mind, I wasn’t looking to go anywhere else. I think I’ve been improving week in and week out, so I’m very happy to be here for the next couple of years."[14]

2018

In round 4, Eisenhuth scored his first NRL try, against the Parramatta Eels in the Tigers' 30-20 win at ANZ Stadium.[15] Midseason, he signed a further extension to remain at Wests Tigers until the end of 2020, with coach Ivan Cleary calling him, "a key member of our team".[16]

Towards the end of the season, Eisenhuth was a described as a player who embodies, "what it means to be a tireless worker". Leading his club in tackle counts, decoy runs, and second in support plays, he was considered one of the hardest workers in the NRL.[17] He scored 2 tries and played in all 24 of the Wests Tigers games for the season.

2019

Eisenhuth played 21 games for Wests in the 2019 NRL season as the club finished ninth and missed out on the finals.[18]

2020

On 28 September, Eisenhuth was one of eight players who were released by the Wests Tigers.[19] On 30 October, he signed a two year deal with Penrith, returning to the club where he played reserve grade.

2021

Eisenhuth played 19 games for Penrith in the 2021 NRL season and featured in the clubs qualifying final loss to South Sydney.[citation needed]

2022

Eisenhuth played 16 games for Penrith in the 2022 NRL season. On 25 September, Eisenhuth played in Penrith's NSW Cup Grand Final victory over Canterbury.[20][21] On 2 October 2022, Eisenhuth played for Penrith in their NRL State Championship victory over Norths Devils.[22]

2023

On 18 February, Eisenhuth played in Penrith's 13-12 upset loss to St Helens RFC in the 2023 World Club Challenge.[23] Eisenhuth played 11 games for Penrith in the 2023 NRL season however he did not feature in the clubs finals campaign or the 2023 NRL Grand Final in which Penrith defeated Brisbane.[24]

2024

On 24 February, Eisenhuth played in Penrith's 2024 World Club Challenge final loss against Wigan.[25]

References

  1. [1]
    "Updated team lists: Sharks v Tigers". NRL.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  2. [2]
    "Matt Eisenhuth - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. 20 August 1992. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  3. [3]
    Rugby League. "Paul Gallen's cousin Matt Eisenhuth to make NRL debut for Wests Tigers against Cronulla Sharks". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  4. [4]
    Ward, Roy (17 September 2020). "Storm won't risk returning stars as Eisenhuth stakes claim for bench role". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. [5]
    "E". Nyc Database. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  6. [6]
    "2010 Australian Schoolboys Team Announced - Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League". Foxsportspulse.com. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  7. [7]
    "St George Illawarra Dragons". Jubilee Avenue. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  8. [8]
    NRL (6 March 2013). "NRL Season Preview - Part 3". The SportingJournal. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  9. [9]
    "Parramatta Eels salary cap scandal: Whatever happened to Ricky Stuart's Projector 12?". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  10. [10]
    "Matt Eisenhuth is the NRL's most resilient footballer". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  11. [11]
    New South Wales Rugby League (16 August 2016). "LeagueUnlimited Intrust Super Premiership NSW Teams - 2016 Round 24". League Unlimited. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  12. [12]
    NRL Digital Media. "Late Changes: NRL Round 15 vs. Sharks - Tigers". Weststigers.com.au. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  13. [13]
    "Wests Tigers re-sign Matt Eisenhuth - Zero Tackle". 31 August 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  14. [14]
    "Eisenhuth re-signs with Wests Tigers". nrl.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017.
  15. [15]
    Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "NRL 2018 - Round 4 - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  16. [16]
    "Eisenhuth re-signing ends chance of linking with cousin Gallen". nrl.com.
  17. [17]
    Tanisha Stanton. "Workhorses Eisenhuth, Jackson set for Friday night face off". nrl.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018.
  18. [18]
    "Robbie Farah's cryptic chat with Paul Gallen ahead of Leichhardt Oval showdown". WWOS.
  19. [19]
    "Tigers show EIGHT players the door as Madge cleans house after another miserable season". www.foxsports.com.au.
  20. [20]
    "NSW Cup Grand Final 2022". www.nswrl.com.
  21. [21]
    "Penrith Panthers' back-to-back NRL premierships the culmination of grand final victories across all grades". www.abc.net.au.
  22. [22]
    "Sunia sizzles as Panthers down Devils in State Championship". www.nrl.com.
  23. [23]
    "St Helens: World Club Challenge win 'seismic for British rugby league'". www.bbc.co.uk.
  24. [24]
    "NRL grand final 2023: Penrith Panthers defeat Brisbane Broncos – as it happened". www.theguardian.com.
  25. [25]
    "World Club Challenge: Wigan Warriors 16-12 Penrith Panthers - Cherry and Whites crowned world champions for fifth time". www.bbc.co.uk.
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