Rugby league great Andrew Ettinghausen to make reality TV debut on Australian Survivor

Rugby league great Andrew Ettingshausen will make his reality television debut as a contestant on the upcoming series of Australian Survivor: Champions V Contenders.

Rugby league great Andrew Ettingshausen will make his reality television debut as a contestant on the upcoming series of Australian Survivor: Champions V Contenders.

The 53-year-old will compete as a champion in the series alongside Olympian Steven Bradbury and a host of other familiar faces, with the first look released of the series that will premiere later this year.

“I never thought I would ever have the chance to go on Survivor,” Ettingshausen told Confidential.

“To me this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. In preparation, I cut out all rubbish food and drink. I physically worked out as much as I could and have lost 6kg in four months.”

Andrew Ettingshausen played for the Cronulla Sharks. Supplied Image

Ettingshausen, who played professionally for the Cronulla Sharks in the ’80s and ’90s, has already started shooting the reality show in Fiji with other cast members on the champion side announced today, including Shark Tank judge and businesswoman Janine Allis, big wave surfer Ross Clarke-Jones and marathon swimmer Susie Maroney.

Bradbury is of course known for his shock win at the Salt Lake City in 2002 when he became the first Australian to take home gold at a Winter Olympics.

“I said yes because I’m competitive by nature and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Bradbury said. “It’s definitely going out of my comfort zone and it’s a big change from everyday life.”

Steven Bradbury will spend any winnings on education for his kids. Supplied Image

He added: “If I win, I would put the money towards my kids’ education, support a friend who is dying of cancer and also have a big party.”

Channel 10 has also announced some of the everyday “contenders” who will be competing against the champions.

Sydney schoolteacher and professional wrestler Matt Farrelly, 29, West Australian gold miner John Eastoe, 28, and South Australian cleaner Sarah Ayles, 45, are all in the mix.

Jonathan LaPaglia returns to host the series.

CONTESTANTS:

Andrew Ettingshausen, 53, NRL Legend

When you think of NRL, Andrew Ettingshausen (ET) is one of the biggest names in the sport’s recent history. Renowned as one of the best NRL players of our time, ET played 328 games for the Cronulla Sharks over 18 years. The longevity of his career and his contribution to the NRL has cemented his status as a legend of the game and was awarded the Daly M Centre of the Year Award in 1994 and 1996. Still living in Sydney’s shire and the father of four girls, ET now spends most of his time out on the water with his own fishing TV series, Escape With ET.

Janine Allis, 53, CEO Powerhouse

One of Australia’s leading Entrepreneurs and CEO’s, Janine is the founder of Boost Juice bars, which is now one of the largest juice bars in the world. With over 600 stores in 15 countries, the iconic brand has secured Janine a spot in the list of top Aussie businesses. Her overall company, Retail Zoo, employs over 7000 people working across four businesses. The winner of numerous retail, franchise and business awards including Telstra Business Woman of the Year, she is also well known to Australian TV audiences from Shark Tank.

Ross Clarke-Jones, 53, Big Wave Surfer

A legendary big wave surfer, Ross is one of the most iconic surfers to catch waves over 80 feet high. Known as Mad Dog, Ross has a need for speed in all things action. Making his name as a big wave surfer at the 1986 Billabong Pro, he then spent 12 years on the ASP World Tour. In 2001, Ross became the first Australian surfer (and first non-Hawaiian) to win the prestigious Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau. Then in 2016, he took second place at the elite big wave competition now known as The Eddie, which is the world’s most renowned big wave surfing competition.

Steven Bradbury, 45, Olympic Gold Medallist

Not many people have a phrase named after them in the Australian National Dictionary, but ‘Doing a Bradbury’ has become part of the country’s vernacular. Steven is a former short track speed skater and four-time Olympian. He’s most famous for his Gold Medal win at the 2002 Winter Olympics after his four opponents all collided, leaving him to skate to victory. This win made Steven something of a folk hero and the story of the underdog who never gave up.

Susie Maroney, 44, Marathon Swimmer

The most highly decorated long-distance swimmer in Australian history, Susie knows how to stay strong mentally and how important endurance is to win a game like Survivor. Growing up with asthma, her mother got Susie and her siblings into swimming to build up their lung capacity which lead to a huge career in marathon swimming. Most famous for her 1999 swim from Mexico to Cuba, the world’s longest open water swim, Susie completed the 200km swim in 38 hours, a feat no one has done since.

Decorated long-distance swimmer Susie Maroney. Supplied Image

Making their way to the first challenge for the Contenders are:

John Eastoe, 28, Gold Miner

Looking like he’s fresh off the set of a VB commercial, John is the ultimate Aussie larrikin. An underground gold miner from WA, John is cheeky, tough, determined and a bloke who just wants to have a good time. Hoping these characteristics will help him in the game, John is not a superfan of the show but thinks he’s still got what it takes.

Matty Farrelly, 29, Highschool Teacher/Pro Wrestler

With two very strong sides to his personality, Matt is a humble history teacher by day and by night, a hard talking, arrogant, pro wrestler under the alias of Matty Walhberg. Strategic, cocky and a self-professed, “21st Century Success Story,” While he might play hard on his pro wrestling persona, there’s a definite soft side to Matt who knows how to look after people and make them feel comfortable thanks to his teaching history.

Sarah Ayles, 45, Cleaner

Sarah is a cleaner from South Australia and already a real-life Survivor. In 2004, Sarah survived the Boxing Day tsunami while in Sri Lanka. Not knowing what was happening until it was too late, she jumped off a balcony and was dragged 800 metres away trying to hold on to anything she could. She eventually was grabbed and pulled onto a roof. Mum of two and married for over 10 years, Sarah has taken the hard times and turned them around hoping to inspire people to live their lives to the fullest.

SA 2019 Survivor contender Sarah Ayles Pic: Supplied by Channel 10

Matty Farrelly, 29, Highschool Teacher/Pro Wrestler

With two very strong sides to his personality, Matt is a humble history teacher by day and by night, a hard talking, arrogant, pro wrestler under the alias of Matty Walhberg. Strategic, cocky and a self-professed, “21st Century Success Story,” While he might play hard on his pro wrestling persona, there’s a definite soft side to Matt who knows how to look after people and make them feel comfortable thanks to his teaching history.

Originally published as Rugby league great Andrew Ettinghausen to make reality TV debut on Australian Survivor