Adam SutcliffeCronulla's ET - Andrew Ettingshausen
January 11th 2007 01:02
A-Z of Australian Rugby League Greats of the past 25 years
Each week, we will profile an Australian rugby league greats of the past 25 years. The players profiled arent necessarily all representative players, but individuals that have provided their fans with the commitment, dedication and sacrifice for the greater good of their club.
Ettingshausen, Andrew
Date of Birth - 29/10/1965
Position Fullback, Centre, Wing
Nickname ET
Clubs
Cronulla Sharks - 328 games 1983-2000, 165 tries and one goal for 662 points
State of Origin NSW, 27 matches 1987 - 1998, 7 tries for 28 points
International Career Australia, 25 matches 1988 - 1997, 14 tries for 56 points
In a career spanning eighteen first grade seasons, Andrew Ettingshausen was one of the most repected outside backs to have set foot on a football field over the past thirty years. 'ET', as he was affectionately known, was a Cronulla Sutherland, NSW and Australian selection certainty throughout his glittering rugby league carrer, with his blinding pace, backlne versatility and rugged goodlooks, a guaranteed drawcard for many adoring fans.
Ettingshausen first laced on a football boot at the age of six, and it was playing for his De La Salle school side that he was first scouted by the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. Making his first grade debut for the Sharks as an 18 year old winger, Ettingshausen went onto represent his beloved Sharks in 328 first grade games, which is still a record for the Sutherland shire club.
While 'ET' had trouble adjusting to the rigours of first grade early on in his career, Ettingshausen became a regular fixture in the Cronulla team form the 1985 season and onwards.'ET' was rewarded with his phenomenenal try scoring feats (79 tries over seven seasons) for Cronulla, with selection on the wing for the NSW Blues in the 1987 State of Origin series. He went onto represent the 'Blues' in 27 Origin matches, sitting second only to Brad Fittler in most games for NSW.
In 1988, Ettingshausen was shifted into the centres for Cronulla, a position he would play for the rest of his career. He enjoyed immediate success in the position, crossing for 17 tries, including a record 5 tries in one match against the Illawarra Steelers. Although 'ET' played centre for the majority of his Cronulla career, Ettingshausen was always selected on either the wing or at fullback in both the Origin and Test teams.
In season 1994, Ettingshausen was rewarded with the club captaincy of Cronulla, and capped off the season by scoring 18 tries. It was alos during thius period where 'ET's' physical attributes were utilised to market the game of rugby league, with Ettingshausen invariably asking to attend various modelling and media functions as 'the face of rugby league'. This sidelight to his football career not only paved the way for today's footballers modelling contracts, but also served him well for a television career for life after football.
Injuries curtailed his on field appearances later in his career, with a chronic back injury eventually forcing him to retire in season 2000. Ettingshausen retired as one of Cronulla's favourite sons, and in season 2000 he was honoured for his contribution to rugby league by having one of his home grounds grandstands being named after him. in 2003, Cronulla also named hima s one of their top ten Sharks legends of all time, as well as nameing him as one of only three Immortals at the club.
Today, Andrew Ettingshausen has etched out a career in television, with 'Escape with ET' developing a soild audience following. The show has been running for over eight years now on the Channel Nine and Ten networks.
Cheers,
StephenP
*Photos courtesy of www.escapewithet.com.au
Each week, we will profile an Australian rugby league greats of the past 25 years. The players profiled arent necessarily all representative players, but individuals that have provided their fans with the commitment, dedication and sacrifice for the greater good of their club.
Ettingshausen, Andrew
Date of Birth - 29/10/1965
Position Fullback, Centre, Wing
Nickname ET
Clubs
Cronulla Sharks - 328 games 1983-2000, 165 tries and one goal for 662 points
International Career Australia, 25 matches 1988 - 1997, 14 tries for 56 points
In a career spanning eighteen first grade seasons, Andrew Ettingshausen was one of the most repected outside backs to have set foot on a football field over the past thirty years. 'ET', as he was affectionately known, was a Cronulla Sutherland, NSW and Australian selection certainty throughout his glittering rugby league carrer, with his blinding pace, backlne versatility and rugged goodlooks, a guaranteed drawcard for many adoring fans.
While 'ET' had trouble adjusting to the rigours of first grade early on in his career, Ettingshausen became a regular fixture in the Cronulla team form the 1985 season and onwards.'ET' was rewarded with his phenomenenal try scoring feats (79 tries over seven seasons) for Cronulla, with selection on the wing for the NSW Blues in the 1987 State of Origin series. He went onto represent the 'Blues' in 27 Origin matches, sitting second only to Brad Fittler in most games for NSW.
In 1988, Ettingshausen was shifted into the centres for Cronulla, a position he would play for the rest of his career. He enjoyed immediate success in the position, crossing for 17 tries, including a record 5 tries in one match against the Illawarra Steelers. Although 'ET' played centre for the majority of his Cronulla career, Ettingshausen was always selected on either the wing or at fullback in both the Origin and Test teams.
In season 1994, Ettingshausen was rewarded with the club captaincy of Cronulla, and capped off the season by scoring 18 tries. It was alos during thius period where 'ET's' physical attributes were utilised to market the game of rugby league, with Ettingshausen invariably asking to attend various modelling and media functions as 'the face of rugby league'. This sidelight to his football career not only paved the way for today's footballers modelling contracts, but also served him well for a television career for life after football.
Injuries curtailed his on field appearances later in his career, with a chronic back injury eventually forcing him to retire in season 2000. Ettingshausen retired as one of Cronulla's favourite sons, and in season 2000 he was honoured for his contribution to rugby league by having one of his home grounds grandstands being named after him. in 2003, Cronulla also named hima s one of their top ten Sharks legends of all time, as well as nameing him as one of only three Immortals at the club.
Cheers,
StephenP
*Photos courtesy of www.escapewithet.com.au
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