I think people are underestimating Sandow's two biggest strengths just a little bit.
(1) He runs the ball very well.
(2) He loves to put big hits on.
Firstly, neither of our current halves run the ball very much. Mortimer used to look good running and has stopped. Robson, too - looked a little sharper running the ball but hasn't really done it a lot. As a result, defences take a very easy approach: get in their faces and pressure them. And because neither Robson nor Mortimer have the vision or skill of, say, a Scott Prince, the defence can usually snuff out any danger with relative ease.
Sandow's ability to run with the ball and make half-breaks (or even breaks) will add a whole new dimension to our attack. Suddenly defences will have to think, "Gee, now they have Sandow AND Hayne who are both dangerous running the ball...Maybe we should relax a little and see what to do next..." And as we all know by now, the "sit and wait to see what happens next" approach to defence is Hayne's favourite.
On point two, it doesn't necessarily mean that opposition forwards won't target him. Of course they will. But it means that he will take some sting and juice out of opposition forwards simply by putting on a big hit. This will undoubtedly pay dividends as the game wears on and the forwards have already spent a lot of energy.
I believe Chris Sandow is exactly the sort of fellow we need. He is niggly, he is annoying, he's aggressive, he's arrogant, he's competitive - but he has the skills IMO to back it up. Brett Finch was a competitor and a trier, but didn't have much skill. Robbo - freaking legend off the field and he never dies wondering. But he's lacking in skill. Mortimer also.
