broncos2010
Juniors
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- 2,179
He has no type of kicking game and he has a running game but he hardly ever uses it.
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From what ive seen of him he has a decent kicking game.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...dow/story-fn2mcuj6-1226689103092#.UfnKs6y58b9Peter Sterling says the sun is setting on Parramatta halfback Chris Sandow
- Peter Sterling
- The Daily Telegraph
- August 01, 2013 12:00AM
Chris Sandow playing NSW Cup game for Wentworthville. Source: Peter Kelly / News Limited
THROUGH the combination of my former involvement along with my current high expectation, I'm either the best or the worst person to comment on the Parramatta number seven jersey.
I'm not entirely sure which.
However during the Eels' loss to Canterbury last Friday night I was asked whether I considered Luke Kelly to be a viable long-term prospect for my old club.
I must admit the question, though an obvious one, took me by surprise because I hadn't really contemplated decisions to be made in that area and the ramifications they would mean for the future.
My immediate response was that I thought Luke had plenty to offer and had certainly been superior in what he had provided for the team this season compared to that of the much higher profiled Chris Sandow.
After greater consideration I have found no reason to alter my opinion as to whether he has the potential to play an ongoing role in the re-structuring and re-building of the Eels under Ricky Stuart.
Kelly was a mid-season recruit from Melbourne last year and there is always a concern when a 22-year-old halfback hasn't already made some sort of mark in the top grade.
This isn't a hard and fast rule especially when you consider that in his time at the Storm he was behind the likes of Cooper Cronk, Brett Finch and Gareth Widdop.
He did manage six first team appearances, which was a positive with Craig Bellamy in charge.
In fact the composure he has shown under enormous pressure this year with less than 25 first grade games under his belt is one of the main reasons that I've liked what I've seen and he will only get better with more experience.
He has a crisp pass, an astute kicking game and is a decent defender.
An extra metre of pace wouldn't hurt but I survived an entire career being slow.
I actually see distinct similarities with the solid game that the Sharks' Jeff Robson has put together and I doubt that Cronulla would swap him for any other number seven in the competition.
Whether Luke has the toughness both physically and mentally to be a regular starter remains to be seen, but at the very least I'd be retaining his services at the club to ensure depth in that area.
So what does this mean for Chris Sandow?
Again I'm not exactly sure, but I do know that there has to be major changes in the way he goes about his football.
The first thing that must be addressed is his defence.
He has become an obvious target for opposition attacks and his inability to handle players one on one has continually created huge problems for fellow defenders either side of him.
Chris has paid the price for not having ridiculous shoulder charges coached out of his game earlier in his career and now seems incapable of hitting and sticking, which is a real liability.
In possession, the number on his back demands involvement, energy and enthusiasm.
Running across to drop a pass back on the inside to a teammate going nowhere and kicking the ball is nowhere near good enough. If the game isn't coming to you, you have to go to the game.
We've always known that Chris is not a structured halfback, so he needs to feature in ways that best utilise his talents.
Every time a forward hits it up he should be looming in support. Capitalising on quick play the balls should be his signature play.
By putting himself in positions to benefit in broken play would allow his speed and instinct to come to the fore.
I would imagine that these are the types of areas of his game that coach Stuart would be looking for Chris to work on while back in the NSW Cup.
Unfortunately this will not be successful if there are off-field issues that need to be dealt with as suggested in the weekend press.
External problems invariably carry significant distractions and never allow a player to perform to his best.
Hopefully these are being confronted and addressed.
I've heard people say that they want to see Chris playing with a smile on his face. I don't.
I want to see a first grade halfback with a concentrated gaze, intent on working out the best place to be, in which direction the side should be headed, where the opposition look vulnerable and any other information that will help him best secure a victory for his team.
Save the smiling for the dressing sheds after the game.
