Ryan Girdler is one of rugby league’s most high-profile identities.

The former international made his name as a classy centre with Illawarra and Penrith, appearing in more than 200 first grade games in a career spanning 14 years.

He also featured in eight State of Origin games for NSW and five Tests for Australia, played a key role in the Kangaroos’ 2000 World Cup win and helped the Panthers to premiership glory in 2003.

When he retired at the end of 2004, Girdler did so with a swag of point-scoring records in his keeping, among them the Penrith club record for most points in a season. He also holds the mark for most points in the club's history.

He also left the game safe in the knowledge that he will be remembered as one of the finest centres of his era, a player capable of changing a game with his innate ability to sniff out a try or an intercept.

And he's well on the way to echoing those achievements off the field.

Girdler has already forged a flourishing television career and is regarded as one of rugby league’s most popular personalities thanks to his winning smile and engaging sense of humour.