Tom Eisenhuth
{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Tom Eisenhuth
|fullname = Thomas Eisenhuth
|image = Tom Eisenhuth.jpg
|imagesize = 290
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|7|17}}
|birth_place = Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|192|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|SR|LK}}
|club1 = Penrith Panthers
|year1start = 2012
|year1end =
|appearances1 = 1
|tries1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 0
|club2 = Melbourne Storm
|year2start = 2019
|year2end = 23
|appearances2 = 58
|tries2 = 5
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 20
|club3 = St. George Illawarra
|year3start = 2024
|year3end = 25
|appearances3 = 24
|tries3 = 2
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 8
|retired =
|updated = 7 September 2024
| module = {{infobox person
| embed = yes
| father =
| mother =
| spouse =
| education = {{nowrap|St Columba's College, Springwood}}
| alma_mater =
| relatives = Matt Eisenhuth (cousin)
Paul Gallen (cousin)
}}
}}
Tom Eisenhuth (born 17 July 1992) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|lk}} and {{rlp|sr}} forward for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).
He debuted as a {{rlp|ce}} for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
Early life
Eisenhuth was born in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales and was educated at St Columba's College, Springwood.{{cn|date=March 2024}}
He played his junior football for the Lower Mountains Eagles before being signed by the Penrith Panthers. He played for the Panthers' NYC team from 2010 to 2012, scoring 8 tries in 47 games.{{cite web|url=http://www.rleague.com//db/player/e/eisenhuth_tom/index.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527083241/http://www.rleague.com/db/player/e/eisenhuth_tom/index.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 May 2011|title=Eisenhuth, Tom|website=rleague.com}}
Eisenhuth is the cousin of fellow NRL player Matt Eisenhuth and retired Cronulla Sharks Captain Paul Gallen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/storm-won-t-risk-returning-stars-as-eisenhuth-stakes-claim-for-bench-role-20200917-p55whw.html|title=Storm won't risk returning stars as Eisenhuth stakes claim for bench role|first=Roy|last=Ward|date=17 September 2020|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}
Playing career
=Penrith Panthers=
In round 24 of the 2012 NRL season, Eisenhuth made his NRL debut for the Panthers in their 18–16 win over the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium.{{cite web |url=http://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news-display/Rd-24-Final-Teams--Changes--Panthers-v-Warriors/61994 |title=Rd 24 Final Teams & Changes – Panthers v Warriors – Penrith Panthers |access-date=2013-05-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003049/http://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news-display/Rd-24-Final-Teams--Changes--Panthers-v-Warriors/61994 |archive-date=3 December 2013 }} Eisenhuth had travelled to Auckland as a member of the Panthers NRL Under-20s squad, but was called the NRL squad on the morning of the match.{{cite web |last1=Hogan |first1=Kelsey |title=How Storm helped Eisenhuth scratch the seven-year itch |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/09/20/how-storm-helped-eisenhuth-scratch-the-seven-year-itch/ |website=NRL.com |access-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920043722/https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/09/20/how-storm-helped-eisenhuth-scratch-the-seven-year-itch/ |archive-date=20 September 2023 |date=20 September 2023 |url-status=live}}
In 2013, Eisenhuth moved into Penrith's NSW Cup side, the Windsor Wolves. Between 2014 and 2018, Eisenhuth played 44 matches for Penrith's self-named NSW Cup team, scoring 18 tries.{{cite web|title=Tom Eisenhuth|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/players/intrust-super-premiership-nsw/penrith-panthers-nsw-cup/tom-eisenhuth/|publisher=NSWRL.com.au|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627043046/https://www.nswrl.com.au/players/intrust-super-premiership-nsw/penrith-panthers-nsw-cup/tom-eisenhuth/|archive-date=27 June 2018}} In 2016, Eisenhuth played for the St Marys Saints in their Ron Massey Cup Grand Final loss.{{cite web|last=Jarvis|first=Danielle|date=26 September 2016|title=Ron Massey Cup decider shatters club's fairytale|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-standard/sport/ron-massey-cup-decider-shatters-clubs-fairytale/news-story/0bdf878bc5bd90f2231a5dde88954acf|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|access-date=27 June 2018}} On 26 June 2018, Eisenhuth was released from his contract with Penrith effective immediately.{{cite web|date=26 June 2018|title=Panthers duo granted immediate release|url=https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2018/06/26/panthers-duo-granted-immediate-release/|publisher=penrithpanthers.com.au|access-date=27 June 2018}} He then signed with the Melbourne Storm for the remainder of the 2018 season, joining Storm affiliate club the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
=Melbourne Storm=
In round 1 of the 2019 NRL season, Eisenhuth made his Melbourne Storm debut against the Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park. He had his Melbourne jersey (cap number 192) presented to him by former Melbourne player Ryan Hoffman.{{cite web |last1=Ward |first1=Roy |title=Eight years in the making: Storm's Eisenhuth ready for game No.3 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/eight-years-in-the-making-storm-s-eisenhuth-ready-for-game-no-3-20190719-p528xq.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Media |access-date=25 October 2022 |date=20 July 2019}} It marked Eisenhuth's second NRL appearance, his first in 2,398 days.
Eisenhuth played a total of 17 games for Melbourne in the 2021 NRL season as the club won 19 matches in a row and claimed the Minor Premiership. Eisenhuth did not play in the club's finals series where Melbourne suffered a 10–6 loss against eventual premiers Penrith in the preliminary final.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-25/penrith-panthers-beat-melbourne-storm-to-reach-nrl-grand-final/100485860/|title=Penrith Panthers beat Melbourne Storm 10-6 to reach second straight NRL grand final, will face South Sydney Rabbitohs|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=25 September 2021}}
In 2022, Eisenhuth was named in the NRL and Rugby League Players Association academic team of the year. A qualified schoolteacher, Eisenhuth balanced his rugby league commitments with completing a Masters of Education through the Australian Catholic University.{{cite web |title=Eisenhuth named in Academic Team of the Year |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2022/09/30/eisenhuth-named-in-academic-team-of-the-year |website=melbournestorm.com.au |access-date=25 October 2022 |date=30 September 2022}}
Eisenhuth would make 18 appearances for the Melbourne outfit in the 2023 NRL season, the most in a single season for his career.{{cite web |last1=Kuncoro |first1=Kye |title=NRL 2023: Melbourne Storm season review |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-melbourne-storm-season-review/af9dab1e4f900cda437dc53f |website=The Sporting News |access-date=4 October 2023 |date=25 September 2023}} Following the end of the season, Melbourne announced that Eisenhuth would be leaving the club.{{cite web |title=Eisenhuth farewells Storm |url=https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2023/10/04/eisenhuth-farewells-storm/ |website=melbournestorm.com.au |access-date=4 October 2023 |date=4 October 2023}}
=St. George Illawarra=
Eisenhuth played every game for St. George Illawarra in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/the-mole-st-george-illawarra-dragons-2024-what-went-wrong-season-review-20240910-p5k9kr.html/|title=The Mole's end-of-season review: 'Bullies' exposed as big-money Dragons forward called out|website=www.nine.com.au}} Eisenhuth re-signed with the club for 2025.{{Cite web |last=Pryde |first=Scott |date=2024-12-03 |title=One spot left for Dragons as Eisenhuth locks up new deal |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/one-spot-left-for-dragons-as-eisenhuth-locks-up-new-deal-217561/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}}
Eisenhuth was granted extended leave from St. George Illawarra after suffering a concussion in pre-season and in a match in NSW Cup.{{Cite web |last=Pryde |first=Scott |date=2025-04-08 |title=Eisenhuth facing new lay off as concussions threaten career |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/eisenhuth-facing-new-lay-off-as-concussions-threaten-career-220536/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}} On 23 May 2025, it was announced that Eisenhuth had retired from the NRL due to ongoing concussion concerns.{{Cite web |last=Pryde |first=Scott |date=2025-05-23 |title=Dragons forward forced into unfortunate career call |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/dragons-forward-forced-into-unfortunate-career-call-222253/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}} Hours later, St. George officially confirmed his retirement and had confirmed that Eisenhuth will stay at the club in an off field role.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-23 |title=Tom Eisenhuth announces retirement from rugby league |url=https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2025/05/23/tom-eisenhuth-announces-retirement-from-rugby-league/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=St George Illawarra Dragons |language=en}}
Representative career
On 2 October 2012, Eisenhuth was named on the bench in the Junior Kangaroos team to face the Junior Kiwis.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/junior-kangaroos-side-announced/tabid/10874/newsid/70149/default.aspx|title = Junior Kangaroos side announced|date = 2 October 2012}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20231004055625/https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/melbourne-storm/tom-eisenhuth/ Melbourne Storm profile (archived)]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eisenhuth, Tom}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Junior Kangaroos players
Category:Melbourne Storm players
Category:Penrith Panthers players
Category:Rugby league players from New South Wales
Category:Rugby league second-rows
Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players
Category:Sunshine Coast Falcons players