Crowe's tweet sparks warfare
HOSTILITIES between Parramatta and South Sydney exploded yesterday after Rabbitohs powerbrokers Russell Crowe and Shane Richardson mouthed off over Chris Sandow's $1.7 million defection to the Eels.
Incoming Souths coach Michael Maguire is now under immense pressure to find a specialist No. 7, but his long-term relationship with out-of-favour Raiders veteran
Matt Orford could provide a left-field solution.
The Eels now want Bulldogs playmaker
Ben Roberts as an option to partner Sandow in a new-look halves combination next season.
Parramatta have already made unofficial overtures to sign Roberts for the remainder of this year. But the enormous ramifications of Sandow's exorbitant four-year deal were immediately overshadowed by a provocative parting shot from Richardson, who lamented: "Unfortunately Chris has met his Alan Bond."
Eels officials were furious at being likened to the disgraced businessman, who infamously bought Channel 9 for $1 billion before selling the network back to Kerry Packer for a $300 million loss.
But they were even more incensed at Crowe, who inflated the value of Sandow's contract in a reactionary tweet that immediately drew the ire of fans. "Chris Sandow to Parramatta at 550K a year," the Hollywood star cried.
It is understood Sandow will actually earn a little over $400,000-a-year, but Parramatta did increase their offer from $800,000 over three seasons at the 11th hour in response to a rearguard action from Crowe.
Parramatta chairman Roy Spagnolo said he preferred to maintain the club's dignity by not firing back at Souths. "We'll be professional and just let them embarrass themselves," Spagnolo said.
But Richardson said Souths were bewildered by the magnitude of Parramatta's offer - claiming the young halfback now earns more than the game's elite players.
Asked did he regret the comment, Richardson said: "Not at all. I remember what Kerry Packer said.
"Only once in your lifetime does an Alan Bond come along. Parramatta made an massive offer and good luck to Chrissy."
Eels CEO Paul Osborne was going to return serve at Crowe on Twitter, but instead fronted a press conference late yesterday.
"I might look like Alan Bond, but I don't feel like him, no," Osborne said.
"It's probably not the way we would have reacted and it's something other people will judge," he said.
"It's been interesting and we've missed out on some players this year and we've been disappointed, but I certainly haven't tweeted and I certainly haven't speculated about what kind of money we've missed out on."
Outspoken Eels board member Ray Price, however, blasted Richardson and Crowe for hypocracy after the pair poached
Greg Inglis on a mega-bucks deal late last year.
"I can't believe it," Price said. "Someone beats them to something and they get the sh*ts and carry on.
"What about Inglis?"
As revealed in The Daily Telegraph two weeks ago, the Eels chased Sandow after Wayne Bennett sang the 21-year-old's praises to coach Stephen Kearney and football manager Peter Nolan.
With their initial approach exceeding what Souths could afford, Parramatta were confident of getting their man after he gave them separate verbal assurances the deal would be done.
But Crowe refused to give up and pleaded with Sandow to stay behind the scenes.
Parramatta's heavy loss to St George Illawarra on Sunday also had Eels officials worried and on Monday morning some directors were genuinely resigned to missing yet another big-name target.
But the last-minute negotiations produced an offer to good for Sandow to refuse, leaving Souths with limited options for next year.
Although contracted for another season, Orford is struggling to re-adapt to the NRL in Canberra. He regularly speaks to Maguire, but there have been no official discussions between Souths and the 33-year-old's agent, George Mimis.
Isaac Luke is also an option to fill Sandow's boots, with the Kiwi rake playing his junior representative football in the halves and young hookers
Nathan Peats and
Beau Falloon also at Redfern.
