Poupou Escobar
Post Whore
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The best indicator of Sandow's impact was how we went against the Dogs while he was off the field. They had absolutely nothing against our defence and Corey Norman grew an extra leg.
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Interesting... but doesn't necessarily mean he'll get a run elsewhere -
Chris Sandow: Why Parramatta Eels should think twice about dumping their highly-paid halfback
CHRIS Sandow might be on his last legs at Parramatta, but heres one set of numbers the under-siege halfback can stand on.
Believe it or not, the Eels are a better side across the board with Sandow in their side, winning more games and scoring more points while conceding less with the off-contract 26-year-old in the blue and gold No.7.
Since arriving at Parramatta to much fanfare on a contract worth around $550k-a-year in 2012, Sandow has endured a bumpy ride his latest demotion to reserve grade one of a string of lows at the club.
Parramattas win percentage has been all sorts of awful for the past five years, but without the enigmatic playmaker their record drops to an even more abysmal 23.1 per cent, with just three wins from the 13 games when Sandow is absent.
The Eels on paper are worth three points more per game when Sandow plays and perhaps more surprisingly, given he is often targeted in defence by the opposition, concede just under a converted try less when he plays.
Dropped this week to NSW Cup feeder side Wentworthville as the Eels take on the Warriors, Sandows dumping is believed to be unrelated to a bizarre incident where he allegedly crashed a car while test driving it and left it on the roadside in a Parramatta industrial estate.
This is the third time the Cherbourg product has felt the selection axe at Parramatta, having also been dropped in 2012 by former coach Stephen Kearney, and again in 2013 by Ricky Stuart.
Dark days followed his relegation two years ago as Sandow faced up to gambling and alcohol problems, thinking he had played his last game for the Eels.
His return for the club in round four of last year was hailed as one of the games great redemption stories, and Sandow went on to play every game of the 2014 season, winning the Ken Thornett Medal as the Eels players player in a much improved campaign for both player and team.
But with Parramatta struggling in 15th place, his own form dropping off alarmingly and big name halves recruit Kieran Foran on his way in 2016, Sandow is fighting for his career at the club.
Its up to the club whether they want me to stay or not, I would love to stay. Were building really good but Ill leave it all up to my manager, Sandow said.
It would be a good opportunity to play with Kieran because hes really direct with the footy and he brings the boys onto the ball.
With me out the back that could look really good. But Ive just got to let my footy do the talking and hopefully things will fall into place.
But with stats emerging earlier this week that with 152 first grade games Sandow is the most capped player in the NRL still yet to play finals football, Eels boss Scott Seward admitted the club is not in any great rush to secure his services beyond this year.
The likes of Cronulla and Manly are both in the market for halves, but wherever Sandow ends up next season it is likely to be on significantly less money than his current contract, which was penned when he was touted as one of the games brightest up and coming halves after claiming Rookie of the Year honours with the Rabbitohs in 2008.
Sandow is still a proven match winner when hes on song, but his propensity for all or nothing plays is understood to have him on the outer at Parramatta.
