ET Phone Home - NSWRL Star Hall of Fame Calls, Shire Wonders What Took So Long

Liam Montgomery | Sports Editor | Sutherland Shire Gazette

23 May 2025

Local hero, part-time fish whisperer and full-time Shire deity Andrew “ET” Ettingshausen has officially been inducted into the NSW Rugby League The Star Hall of Fame this week, sending shockwaves of pride through the Sutherland Shire.

The ceremony, held somewhere glitzy and north of Tom Ugly’s Bridge (so basically irrelevant), confirmed what every local has known since the early ‘80s: ET isn’t just part of Cronulla’s history - he is Cronulla’s history.

"It's about bloody time," said longtime fan and amateur plaque historian Macca, down at Sharkies Kareela. "They could've just inducted the whole Shire and called it a day."

With ET’s brother and sister-in-law at the helm of the Shire’s leading performing arts and martial arts studio for over 30 years, and his daughter running a gym that produces champions and influencers at equal rates, it’s now widely accepted that the Ettingshausen surname is a high-performance brand. Officials are reportedly considering simply inducting the entire bloodline into all available Halls of Fame - sporting, artistic, and possibly the one at Miranda Fair if they ever build one.

Instead of the usual statue, Cronulla Council is in talks to replace the pedestrian crossing near South Cronulla beach with an interactive ET Walk of Fame, which will play motivational quotes, shark calls, and distant jazz hands with every step.

More controversially, the suburb itself is reportedly considering a full rebrand to Ettingshausenland, complete with themed bins and compulsory calf raises.

The Gazette understands that all future Shire births bearing the Ettingshausen gene pool will be immediately handed a mini Dally M, a black belt, and a jazz tap registration form - no questions asked.

Some fans are now calling on Mayor Jack Boyd to declare an annual public holiday in ET’s honour, ideally timed with good swell and no school sport.

Despite the accolades, ET remains humbler than a tradie at Shark Park. “It’s nice,” he reportedly said while casually spearfishing off Oak Park. “But not as nice as a quiet Tuesday on the Port Hacking.”