Parramatta Eels fans have been dealt a crushing blow with the announcement that club legend Eric Newbigging will be sidelined for two years following a career-threatening injury. The veteran forward, known for his toughness and leadership on the field, sustained a severe knee injury during a recent pre-season training session.
Initial reports revealed that Newbigging suffered multiple ligament tears, including an ACL rupture, requiring immediate surgery. The long recovery process means he will miss the entire 2024 and 2025 NRL seasons, leaving a significant void in the Eels’ forward pack.
Parramatta head coach Brad Arthur expressed his disappointment: “Eric is the heart and soul of our team, both on and off the field. Losing him for this amount of time is a massive setback, but we know he’ll tackle his rehab with the same determination he brings to every game.”
Newbigging, who has been a pivotal figure for the Eels since debuting in 2017, took to social media to address his fans. “This isn’t how I wanted the next two years to go, but setbacks are part of the journey. I’ll be doing everything I can to recover and get back out there stronger,” he wrote.
Fans and teammates have rallied around Newbigging, flooding social media with messages of support and well-wishes. Eels captain Clint Gutherson praised his resilience: “Eric is a fighter. If anyone can come back from this, it’s him. We’ll miss him out there, but he’ll still be a huge presence around the club.”
The injury is a significant blow to Parramatta’s 2024 campaign as the team looks to rebuild after a challenging 2023 season. With Newbigging sidelined, younger forwards will need to step up to fill the gap left by one of the NRL’s most reliable enforcers.
For now, the rugby league community will watch and wait, hopeful that the Eels legend can defy the odds and return to the field to continue his st
oried career.
Leave a Reply