Andrew ‘ET’ Ettingshausen survived 328 NRL games, but can he be sole Survivor?

Cronulla Sharks legend Andrew “ET” Ettingshausen is in Fiji, ready to tackle anyone who stands between him and the title of sole Survivor.

If you’re an NRL fanatic, then you’ll definitely recognise this Survivor Champion.

NRL legend Andrew “ET” Ettingshausen spends most of his time off the field these days, preferring his hosting gig on Escape Fishing with ET.

No doubt those fishing skills will serve him well at the Champions’ camp on this season of Survivor.

Despite being age 53 and nearly two decades from footy career, ET said he was definitely up for the Survivor challenge.

“I never thought I would ever have the chance to go on Survivor. Playing in the Champions team is awesome and to me this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

He’s still got it! Picture: Nigel Wright/Channel 10

Nineteen years after retiring from rugby league, this legend of the game strutted into camp looking more ripped than some of the younger players. But the footy great revealed he dieted pretty hard pre-show, shedding 6kg in four months.

“I probably haven’t had a six pack for 20 years since I was playing professional footy,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “No food, that gives you a six pack pretty quick.”

And while he did prep physically for a Survivor stay in Fiji, ET said the mental preparation was a different story.

“Playing for Australia was a super tough gig but this is a different sort of game,” he said.

“The social game is so big and if you haven’t formed the right alliance or if you are with the wrong people … everything is tested so I think as far as Survivor goes, it is an incredibly tough game.”

ON THE FIELD

Ettingshausen cemented himself in the NRL hall of fame after playing 328 games with the Cronulla Sharks. He made his debut at age 18 while still at school, and was known for his blistering speed. He retired at the end of 2000, breaking records for the most games at a single club (This record stood for 10 years before it was broken by Darren Lockyer for the Broncos in 2010).

After leaving the game, the footy star decided to pursue his other great love — fishing. He celebrated a remarkable 20 years on air in February this year with his popular Escape With ET fishing show.

“I could’ve gone down the commentary path as there was an option to do that, but I decided I wanted to do something different and bringing fishing to people’s lounge rooms is what I wanted to do,’’ Ettingshausen told The Daily Telegraph.

Much of ET’s life is about fishing these days.

He remains a legend of the game he retired from in 2000. Picture: Supplied.

RELATED: Meet the full cast of Australian Survivor

OFF THE FIELD

During his long career, his antics both on and off the field made headlines.

ET was rocked by claims that he had an affair with former Sharks teammate Paul Mellor’s wife.

In an eight-page exclusive with The Australian Women’s Weekly, league’s former golden boy blamed his 12-month affair with Ali Mellor on poor judgment and his ongoing depression. He also claimed he spent the 15 months prior undergoing psychiatric treatment.

“I have no words to explain the deep regret I feel. I have thrown away my whole life, all that I treasured, all that I was blessed to have,” he told the magazine.

ET’s wife, Monique, stood by him despite the scandal. The pair have been married 30 years.

Andrew ‘ET’ Ettingshausen and wife Monique. Picture: Robert Rosen

Australian Survivor airs Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday on Network 10 at 7.30pm.