Matt Eisenhuth Explained

Matt Eisenhuth
Fullname:Matthew Eisenhuth[1]
Birth Date:1992 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Auburn, New South Wales, Australia
Height:197cm (78inches)
Weight:111kg (245lb)
Club1:Wests Tigers
Year1start:2017
Year1end:20
Appearances1:70
Tries1:4
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:16
Club2:Penrith Panthers
Year2start:2021
Year2end:present
Appearances2:61
Tries2:1
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:4
Source:[2]
Updated:15 August 2024

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

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.

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Updated team lists: Sharks v Tigers . NRL.com . 2017-06-17.
  2. Web site: Matt Eisenhuth - Career Stats & Summary . Rugby League Project . 1992-08-20 . 2017-06-26.
  3. Web site: Rugby League . Paul Gallen's cousin Matt Eisenhuth to make NRL debut for Wests Tigers against Cronulla Sharks . Smh.com.au . 2017-06-17.
  4. Web site: Storm won't risk returning stars as Eisenhuth stakes claim for bench role. Roy. Ward. 17 September 2020. The Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. Web site: E . Nyc Database . 2017-06-17.
  6. Web site: 2010 Australian Schoolboys Team Announced - Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League. Foxsportspulse.com. 2011-06-25. 2015-04-05.
  7. Web site: St George Illawarra Dragons . Jubilee Avenue . 2017-06-17.
  8. Web site: NRL . NRL Season Preview - Part 3 . The SportingJournal . 2013-03-06 . 2017-06-17.
  9. Web site: Parramatta Eels salary cap scandal: Whatever happened to Ricky Stuart's Projector 12? . Dailytelegraph.com.au . 2015-05-22 . 2017-06-17.
  10. Web site: Matt Eisenhuth is the NRL's most resilient footballer . Dailytelegraph.com.au . 2017-06-16 . 2017-06-17.
  11. Web site: New South Wales Rugby League . LeagueUnlimited Intrust Super Premiership NSW Teams - 2016 Round 24 . League Unlimited . 2016-08-16 . 2017-06-17.
  12. Web site: NRL Digital Media . Late Changes: NRL Round 15 vs. Sharks - Tigers . Weststigers.com.au . 2017-06-17.
  13. Web site: Wests Tigers re-sign Matt Eisenhuth - Zero Tackle. 31 August 2017. 12 September 2017.
  14. Web site: nrl.com . Eisenhuth re-signs with Wests Tigers . 31 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170831053503/http://www.nrl.com/eisenhuth-re-signs-with-wests-tigers/tabid/10874/newsid/111614/default.aspx.
  15. Web site: NRL 2018 - Round 4 - Rugby League Project. Shawn Dollin and Andrew. Ferguson. www.rugbyleagueproject.org. 8 April 2018.
  16. Web site: nrl.com . Eisenhuth re-signing ends chance of linking with cousin Gallen .
  17. Web site: nrl.com . Workhorses Eisenhuth, Jackson set for Friday night face off. Tanisha Stanton. 25 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180725062226/https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/07/25/vb-hard-earned-award-round-20/.
  18. Web site: Robbie Farah's cryptic chat with Paul Gallen ahead of Leichhardt Oval showdown. WWOS.
  19. Web site: Tigers show EIGHT players the door as Madge cleans house after another miserable season. www.foxsports.com.au.
  20. Web site: NSW Cup Grand Final 2022. www.nswrl.com.
  21. Web site: Penrith Panthers' back-to-back NRL premierships the culmination of grand final victories across all grades. www.abc.net.au.
  22. Web site: Sunia sizzles as Panthers down Devils in State Championship. www.nrl.com.
  23. Web site: St Helens: World Club Challenge win 'seismic for British rugby league'. www.bbc.co.uk.
  24. Web site: NRL grand final 2023: Penrith Panthers defeat Brisbane Broncos – as it happened. www.theguardian.com.
  25. Web site: World Club Challenge: Wigan Warriors 16-12 Penrith Panthers - Cherry and Whites crowned world champions for fifth time. www.bbc.co.uk.