Written by Matt Logue
There's no denying Chris Sandow is a naturally gifted footballer. A raw talent born on the sporting fields of Cherbourg in north-west Queensland, Sandow spent his youth tormenting rivals with his unpredictable running game and barefooted sideline conversions. It's an unbridled confidence the mercurial halfback has continued in the NRL, with cheeky chip-and-chases and freakish cut-out passes. But in the modern game of structure and set plays, does this unorthodox style work? Can it be sustained?
Big League sat down and watched Sandow's game in Round 14 win against the Melbourne Storm to assess it. During 80 minutes of fluctuating fortunes, we broke down the aspects of Sandow's game that are causing chaso, confusion and major frustration for his coach and team-mates.
9TH MINUTE
This play highlights that something isn't right. Parramatta was on the attack 30 metres out and Sandow called the play, but then dropped out. Five-Eighth Corey Norman was filthy and gave Sandow a spray. Trainer and club legend Luke Burt also ripped into Sandow saying "C'mon mate, that's our shift play". Norman continued his verbal barrage at Sandow. It went for a minute and a half.
In coaching terms, this was an obvious play. There was nothing on and Sandow was told to push up and create some shape.This left Norman with no option but to play a ball that almost goes forward, after Sandow dropped out. This forced the other outside backs to take their line off Sandow, which threw the entire backline out of whack.
26TH MINUTE
Parramatta had the ball 25 metres out and Norman came from the other side of the field to make an extra man in the backline. Sandow got involved. He pushed up to receive the ball and put a perfect pass on the chest of Semi Radradra to score.
Unstructured attack involving second-phase play is when Sandow is at his best. His strength is getting the ball and running. He's quick enough to get through half-gaps and it's something Parramatta should encourage. The only way Sandow can do this is to push up and put himself in the position. That's the difference between Sandow and stars like Billy Slater, and Jonathan Thurston. Those two put themselves in the frame and invariably come up with the clutch play.
When Sandow pushed up late in the game, he got an offload and Ryan Morgan scored in the corner. Sandow has to know when to become involved. When you're 30 metres out on attack alarm bells have to be going off.
34TH MINUTE
Burt was on the field and told Norman about the next play. Norman relayed the message to Sandow, but the halfback dropped out of the play again. This confused the outside backs because the pass was supposed to go to Sandow, who was meant to be hitting the ball at pace then go to the line, using Pauli Pauli as the lead line and with norman out the back to create a 3 on 2.
Sandow showed no urgency to get the ball, which meant Morgan's line was out and he was unsure of what was happening. If Norman had given it, it would have been an average pass so it ends up being a nothing play. however, Parramatta scored from a freakish Sandow kick, which highlights the unpredictability in his play.
52ND MINUTE
The Storm were 35 metres out and the Parramatta players are holding shape in defence, except for Sandow. He should have been next to Brad Takairangi's hip, but he was standing out the front and has his body turned in towards the opposition. He was himself out of position. If Storm halfback Ben Hampton gave the pass it was a 3 on 1 in attack.
In defence, a player needs to stay in shape for the team, where Sandow was caught out wasn't a team play. Ten minutes later, he again defended with his body turned and had Hampton learnt from earlier. He exposed Sandow by passing and created the 3 on 1.
55TH MINUTE
It was tackle four and Parramatta was on attack, once again 30 metres out. The game was tied. Sandow was slow up with the play and didn't become involved. He has a big front-rower at marker and had a chance to put some doubt into the defence is he had pushed up. This could have created an opportunity for a try for Parramatta. Instead, because Sandow was slow to move up with the play, he failed to put pressure on the marker. Halves partner Norman has no option but to play an out-ball because Sandow wasn't there in support.
62ND MINUTE
Parramatta received a penalty 15 metres from Melbourne's line. Sandow can be seen to turn and ask what the play is. He then nodded in acknowledgement. The Eels looked to work towards the posts and Norman knew, but Sandow held himself on the short side and again didn't get involved. The halfback did not move himself into the play to team up with Norman and the ball went to hooker Nathan Peats instead.
Norman wasn't pleased and appeared to be looking straight at Sandow while pointing at him. This continued at the scrum, where the two mouthed off each other for more than a minute.
66ND MINUTE
Parramatta was bring the ball out of trouble, 40 metres from their tryline. Norman took on the line and looked to pass to Sandow, but he pulled his hands back and let the ball bounce. By doing so the Melbourne defence did not hit him. Storm winger Mahe Fonua picked up the loose ball and gave it to Hymel Hunt, who raced away to score. Sandow's team-mates were filthy, including Anthony Watmough who was watching on from the bench and could be seen to be voicing his displeasure with the outcome of the breakdown of Parramatta's play.
FUTURE
This Round 14 game was a great example of how Sandow's contribution can be at such different levels throughout a game. Whilst he set up four tries against the Storm, there are other elements of play, such as desire, intent and basic positioning, which are letting himself and his team-mates down.
It's these kinds of elements that can seperate aspiring young players from other hopefuls trying to become the stars of the future.
So what does the future hold for Sandow?
If he continues to play in this manner, an NRL club that signs him would be taking a risk as he is yet to show the consistency - which is what the Parramatta Eels have been quite clear about him needing to do if he were to extend his stay at the club. He needs a patient coach, one that is prepared to take some mistakes with the magic.
Some teams may be willing to take that risk, invest time in him and sign Sandow on a reduced deal, but it's looking like the halfback's future lies in the English Super League
Replies
Fantastic article, thanks for posting it Ham. The only thing they missed was his lack of urgency for the 1st try conceded, which matches their scathing review of his mindset at times during the flows of the game.
The storm game is probably the prime example as to why we dont need him. Yes he does some awesome things for us, but he also prevents and kills a lot of plays from going forward.
Furthermore, people question his defence and his lack of commitment at times, but that is not the issue. It comes down to his mindset, he just does not care majority of the time, i am unsure as to what it is, only he can answer that, but its the difference between him being a champion 7 and playing in reggies.
Chris reminds of that typical guy at work that would make 10 fuck ups in a day, but would say yeah but i did this 1 thing good. and then question why everybody was being so hard on him.
The first try against us was somewhat explained here but with a different example. If Sandow had the right body positioning Harris mightn't have scored, but because Sandow was facing Green instead of facing the defensive line then it allowed Green to pop a short ball to Harris who strolled over with no one touching him.
This article definitely took away from the structure vs no structure argument. Sandow just doesn't play, he only plays when he wants to and that can either be through a structure or no structure. It doesn't matter, if Sandow doesn't want to be involved he won't be involved.
No wonder he misses so many goals... He's kicking with his boots on!
Excellent article. It would be awesome if it was a weekly column as that is the standard of journalism I want to see in Rugby League.
One key moment they missed was his awful involvement in the first Tohu Harris try where he takes the incredibly soft option to jam in on a well marked runner to avoid having to tackle Tohu Harris which in turn opens up a huge hole for Harris to stroll in through.
I think that the article comes to the wrong conclusion though in the sense that I don't think ANY club is willing to take a risk on him after his comments on Brad Arthur's coaching. It is one thing to take a gamble on a talented but inconsistent halfback but it is essentially career suicide as a coach to willingly recruit a key piece for your team that isn't interested in following a game plan.
Wow - how many games should we have won (or won by more) due to Sandow's selfish/lazy play options?
Thanks for posting that Ham
I always wondered if Sandow pulls out sometimes because by the 5th tackle he is too puffed - too many chimneys for an elite NRL player