The concussion legacy left by Dragons stalwart Tom Eisenhuth following his retirement from NRL

He may have never been the face of an NRL advertising campaign or pictured up on billboards. But a Dragons favourite will leave a greater legacy following his shock retirement call.

St George Illawarra forward Tom Eisenhuth was never the face of an NRL advertising campaign or pictured up on billboards.

Yet the 32-year-old has made a decision that will leave a greater legacy than any commercial or social media reel.

Eisenhuth has made the courageous call after 83 NRL games to retire from the Dragons, effective immediately, after repeated head knocks.

“It’s mixed feelings,” Eisenhuth said.

“I don’t think anyone would hope that it finishes this way, it’s not ideal.”

In doing so, the former Panthers, Storm and Dragons forward, hopes the game and it’s players continue to realise that concussion is no longer taboo.

“I’ve seen a lot of change over my time in the concussion space, for sure,” Eisenhuth said.

“Everyone, even the young fellas coming through, are a bit smarter about how they will look after themselves and what they speak up about and I think that is all positive.

“You don’t want it to be a taboo thing so people don’t treat it properly.

“You want people to be taking a week off if they need it to recover properly so they’ve got quality of life down the line.‘’

Tom Eisenhuth suffered repeated head knocks. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES

Following a sensational 2024 season, where he finished year with the Immortals Trophy for the Dragons, award decided by the coaching staff to a player who consistently leads standards both on and off the field, Eisenhuth’s hope for an even stronger 2025 season came to a shuddering halt in the second week of February.

“I got a decent head knock at training in the week leading into the first pre-season trial match,” Eisenhuth said.

“Those symptoms hung around for a while. For me, it was migraines and headaches. That was very unusual for me and it was rough.

“You’d string a few days together where you’re feeling good and then you’d have a day where you’re a bit off.

“I went and saw a specialist and we worked through that and then two months later, in my first game back (NSW Cup game against Parramatta), I got another head knock and it was a similar thing.

“I was carrying the footy and it wasn’t a bad high shot, I was going to the ground and they got their body in front of where my head was going.”

There wasn’t much in the tackle.

“And the symptoms came straight back,” he said.

“There were two head knocks and that’s what pushed me to the decision.

“I was thinking, even when I come good again, is it just going to happen again? And what’s the long-term effects of going one too many?

“We just don’t know the answer.”

THE MOMENT

Eisenhuth pinpoints a training session in Wollongong last month as the moment he conceded he needed to put his health first.

“There’s one training session and I just wasn’t having a good time with symptoms,” Eisenhuth said.

“That was when I felt, it’s been however long now, I’d had a few good previous days at training and then out of the blue, I had this rough day at training.

“I think that’s when it kind of hit me, that this is probably the way it was going to go.

“I felt sad.”

Eisenhuth hasn’t played since suffering a bad concussion in the pre-season. Picture: Supplied

THE DECISION

Eisenhuth, who was born in the Blue Mountains and was scouted by the Panthers from the Lower Mountains Eagles in 2010, stood in front of his Dragons teammates to break the news of his retirement on Friday morning.

He explained he was officially retiring for both himself and his young family, including three-year-old son Henry, one-year-old daughter Hazel, and wife Hannah.

“Hannah has been very supportive of everything,” he said.

“She knows I enjoy playing football, she didn’t want me to throw it away too soon if it wasn’t the right time.

“But at the same time, she wanted to make sure the right decision was for me and what’s best for us as a family.

“That’s a big part of it too, making sure that there’s a lot of life after football and you want to be in the best shape you can to be able to live that as fulfilling as you can.‘’

He says the entire Dragons management including the coaching staff couldn’t have been more supportive.

“They’ve looked after me,” he said.

“I didn’t feel rushed into making a decision either way or making a decision, in the first place.

“So they’ve been unreal in terms of supporting me through this.

“Then as we’ve got closer to working towards a decision, they’ve been really good because I know at times, not everyone club and player sees eye-to-eye.”

Eisenhuth also played for the Storm. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

THE IMPACT

In a recent Code Sports survey of 50 player agents, the game’s most influential player managers claimed that 73 per cent of footballers hide concussion symptoms.

Eisenhuth suggested his premature retirement – with the remainder of this season on his contract – was a firm indication that the game was maturing in the delicate space of concussion, evident in the game’s forthright – albeit over-the-top – and recent crackdown on high shots.

“100 per cent we have to look after the players’ health and make sure there’s a product for fans to watch,” Eisenhuth said.

“The crackdown is a tough word, because the rules have been in the game a long time and we are seeing a lot of penalties for not deliberate contact, but unfortunate and accidental contact.

“Its tough because you don’t want to condone it, but you also don’t want to be influencing games, if its not high.”

Eisenhuth scored his first try at Brookvale Oval. Picture: Brett Costello

WHAT NOW

Eisenhuth’s removal from the Dragons top 30 roster leaves the club short of another key squad member during their 2025 campaign.

The club are likely to try to sign a replacement before June 30.

For Eisenhuth, who boasts a teaching degree, a potential new career path in coaching is in his sights.

“The Dragons will keep me around and maybe try out a few things in coaching,” Eisenhuth said.

“My whole career has been enjoyable. You have your ups and downs but you get to love what you do every day.

“My first NRL try was a nice one. I scored at Brookvale Oval off a Cameron Smith (former Storm captain) kick.

“Being part of the grand final squad for Melbourne in 2020 was also special.

“I still enjoy the game. I’ll miss playing.

“Sitting here today is a big turn around from last year, I was really hoping to build on that.

“But, I’ve got my life now after football.”

Originally published as The concussion legacy left by Dragons stalwart Tom Eisenhuth following his retirement from NRL