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Parramatta were definitely desperate - they went and signed one of the few exciting young halves with NRL experience partially based on an endorsement from Wayne Bennet who sees the player as a future Queensland rep.
Wests in the late 90s were in the same position Canberra are at the moment.....last.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...tta-over-bunnies/story-e6frf3ou-1226049728704South Sydney owner Russell Crowe and CEO Shane Richardson hit depths of unprofessionalism after Chris Sandow picks Parramatta
- By Martin Smith
- FOX SPORTS
- May 04, 2011 12:34PM
Thumbs down ... Crowe's tweet was far from professional. Source: News Limited
On what was supposed to be a day of celebration for imminent Parramatta signing Chris Sandow, officials from his current club, South Sydney, embarrassed themselves with their unprofessional handling of the matter.
South Sydney confirmed on Wednesday that halfback Sandow had agreed terms with the Eels and would join Stephen Kearney's side next season.
But the bizarre behaviour of chief executive Shane Richardson and the club's owner, Russell Crowe, has taken the gloss off the deal.
"Unfortunately for us he (Sandow) has met his Alan Bond," Richardson said in a club statement.
The back-handed comment from Richardson, no doubt in reference to the huge salary Sandow will receive at the Eels, has left the 22-year-old in no doubt what the club thinks of his decision to leave.
Just minutes after the club's press release, Crowe embarrassed the Rabbitohs even further by revealing Sandow's new salary to his 200,000 followers on Twitter.
Has the South Sydney club embarrased itself in the handling of Chris Sandow's imminent defection to Parramatta? Have your say at the bottom of the page.
"Chris Sandow to Parramatta at $550k a year," Crowe wrote on Twitter.
The debate about whether Sandow is worth that much money has covered up the almost unprecedented action of Crowe to publically reveal the salary of a NRL player.
I say almost for a reason, as it was only five months ago that Crowe blurted out Greg Inglis's salary to a worldwide television audience on the Jay Leno Show.
Despite Crowe's tweet, Sandow told reporters on Wednesday that he still considered Crowe a "mate".
While the club's disappointment at losing a key player is more than reasonable, its childish reaction has cast a shadow over the deal.
Compare the response of Richardson and Crowe to Canterbury-Bankstown officials' handling of Jamal Idris's decision to leave the club for Gold Coast Titans.
The 20-year-old centre signed with the Titans in April for a deal believed to be worth more than $2 million, although the actual figure was never revealed to the public.
If the Bulldogs were upset by Idris's decision to leave the kennel, they didn't show it.
On the day of the announcement, CEO Todd Greenberg joined Idris for a press conference and went out of his way to praise the young centre.
"Loyalty has got nothing to do with this," Greenberg said.
"To me, rugby league loyalty is about within the terms of your contract and Jamal has been extremely loyal to this club over four years.
"He's given us nothing but wonderful service ... he needs to maximise his earning capacity."
Not only have Richardson and Crowe created an uncomfortable situation for Sandow and the Eels, they have also jeopardised the club's chances this season.
There are 18 rounds to go in the 2011 season, and Sandow, while he won't be at Redfern in 2012, will be vital to any hopes the club has of reaching the finals this year.
The smart money says the uncomfortable atmosphere Richardson and Crowe have created will result in more losses for a side that needs every win they can get.
At Belmore, the Bulldogs and Idris will face no such problem.
http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/news/story/sandow-hops-to-the-eels/Sandow hops to the Eels
4 May 11 @ 10:47am by Brad Boxall
PARRAMATTA have signed Souths halfback Chris Sandow to a four-year deal.
Sandow appeared certain to join the Eels until late last week when Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe looked to have convinced him to stay.
But early today, the Rabbitohs announced that Sandow would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The Rabbitohs had called on Sandow’s teammates, club greats and fans to convince him to stay at Redfern.
But it’s believed people close to the cheeky half, including family members, persuaded him to make the change and sign a deal worth $1.6 million for the next four years.
“Unfortunately Chris has met his Alan Bond,” Souths chief executive Shane Richardson said.
“We are very disappointed to learn of Chris’s decision but we wish him the best for the future.”
as he is cheap we can keep him on our books but leave it up to him. If he can get a better deal, wish him all the best.
Faux pas?
