Rabbitohs half Chris Sandow signs
Four-year $1.6 million deal
With Parramatta Eels
Eel deal: South's rugby league player Chris Sandow answers questions
from the press about his decision to switch to Parramatta next season.
Picture: Bob Barker Source: The Daily Telegraph
PARRAMATTA have won the war for Chris Sandow,
signing the Rabbitohs playmaker to a four-year deal late last night.
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 season's end, and where else but on Twitter.
Crowe beat his own team's PR machine to the punch, tweeting "Chris Sandow to Parramatta at $550k a year''.
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 the rich deal.
And now the furious response from Crowe and Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson throws into doubt the halfback's future at the club for the rest of the year.
"Unfortunately Chris has met his Alan Bond," Richardson said in a prepared statement.
“We’re very disappointed to learn of Chris’ decision but we wish him the best for the future.''
It was a reference to the famous quote attributed to the late Kerry Packer after he sold Channel Nine to Bond for $1 billion in 1987 then bought it back from him in 1990 for $700 million as Bond's business empire crumbled.
"You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I've had mine," Packer was quoted as saying at the time.
Parramatta offered Sandow $1.6 million for the next four years and the Rabbitohs couldn't compete after securing his halves partner
John Sutton and winger
Nathan Merritt recently.
Crowe's decision to reveal to the world that Sandow's Eels deal is worth $550,000 a year is quite remarkable, and surely won't be well received by the halfback and his management.
When asked about the figure in Crowe's tweet, 22-year-old Sandow was coy.
"I don't have Twitter mate, it's too much technology for me, so I don't know what he's saying on there," he said.
A Twitter storm followed after Crowe's announcement, with Souths fans lambasting the playmaker while fans from other clubs attacked the club for being petulant.
``Yet another disgraceful effort from Souths. Rusty & Richo ripping into Sandow. Why would you stay? Poor form,'' wrote one Twitter user.
Rabbitohs fans complained about the death of loyalty and perceived flaws in the NRL's salary cap system.
The dynamic No.7, who played his best game of the season last week in the Rabbitohs' thrashing of Cronulla, said there was more to his decision than just money, but he had to think of his young family.
"No it's not about the cash. I just want a new journey, new start for my life and hopefully I play good footy there, but I'm still a South Sydney Rabbitoh until the end of 2011," said Sandow after training at Redfern Oval on Wednesday.
"I've been at Souths so long now and I appreciate Souths for giving me the opportunity to play NRL.
"Heaps of people have been talking to me about not leaving Souths but I have to do what's best for me and my family and I have three little kids now so I have to look after them before me. In saying that I've still got to love myself before others."
Despite the backhanded statement from Richardson, Sandow said he had the full support of his team-mates when he informed them earlier today of his decision.
Sandow said he hadn't fallen out with Crowe over the move.
""He had a few words to me, he basically wanted me to stay but he said what's best for me.
"He's going to be upset but he's there on the side just to talk to me, giving me a hand. He said if I go ahead and go to Parramatta he'll still be my mate, but it's my choice."
Eel deal: South's rugby league player Chris Sandow
reveals his new contract with Parramatta at Redfern Oval.
Picture: Bob Barker Source: The Daily Telegraph
Link:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-parramatta-eels/story-e6frexnr-1226049577163
