Parramatta’s refusal to pay a six-figure severance package to Chris Sandow threatens to end his hopes of making a mid-season switch to English Super League.
Eels coach Brad Arthur yesterday confirmed a report in The Australian on Wednesday that Sandow had requested an immediate release to join English giants Warrington before the July 25 Super League deadline.
However, Arthur also insisted the Eels would no longer pay players to play at rival clubs. As a result, Sandow remains in Parramatta colours and is expected to play a pivotal role as the club attempts to maintain its top-eight push against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium tonight.
“It’s hard to release any player at this time of year,” Arthur said.
“As a club, we need to stop paying players to play for other clubs. We have to do what is best for this team and this club.
“That’s keeping our squad intact. Moving forward, we can’t be affording to pay players at other clubs.”
Asked how he expected Sandow to react to Parramatta’s decision, Arthur said: “His attitude is good. He trains well, he has been playing well, he’s a competitor. I am sure he doesn’t want to let his teammates down.
“He will have that attitude tomorrow night.”
At the heart of the impasse is Sandow’s belief that he is owed money from promised third-party deals that failed to come to fruition.
Sandow also has three months remaining on a lucrative contract he signed with the Eels, equating to in excess of $100,000.
The Eels, who have been the subject of well-documented salary cap issues in recent weeks, are standing their ground and refusing to pay Sandow any money should he depart despite the club informing him only last month that he was free to leave.
The club was fined $525,000 for breaches of all four levels of the salary cap, although that amount was reduced by $60,000 following club submissions to the NRL.
Parramatta is also operating under the threat of losing up to four premiership points from the start of next season unless they undergo a full governance review, which needs to be completed to the satisfaction of the NRL.
As a result, Sandow is expected to take his place in the halves against the Bulldogs tonight.
“You just don’t know what he’s going to do at a particular time,” Canterbury coach Des Hasler said.
“He got them out of a couple of sticky situations and he’s won games for them. It’s working well for them.”
While Sandow’s future at Parramatta remains the subject of much speculation, Canterbury’s Trent Hodkinson has reached a decision over where he will play next season.
He has also been returned to the starting side at the expense of boom youngster Moses Mbye.
Mbye had been preferred to Hodkinson and Reynolds in recent weeks but Hasler opted to give the 21-year-old a reduced role against the Eels.
“Moses, it’s been a big couple of weeks for him,” Hasler said.
Hasler also spoke highly of NSW prop David Klemmer, who will play alongside Mbye off the interchange bench following the return of James Graham from injury.
Klemmer was an influential figure for the Blues in the State of Origin series.
“It’s been a great experience for Dave,” Hasler said.
“David doesn’t overcomplicate things. That’s the most refreshing thing about Dave. He just gets on, gets the job done.
“I thought he had a great series. He’s really established himself as a player. He knows there’s still parts of his game he needs to address. And that’s the exciting thing about watching young players such as David come through the ranks.”
Parramatta’s Chris Sandow looks happy enough at Parramatta training ahead of their match against Canterbury. Picture: Gregg Porteous. Source: News Corp Australia
Replies
No idea sounds stupid. Double pay check? Plus he is owed 3rd party but that's nothing to do with the club is it?
One word....
Aristocrat.
By all reports Chrissy has taken the news well and is training strongly. And why wouldn't he. The world's your oyster man; you can make the 8 so just go for it.
I reckon for most of us if we were to resign or "bundy off" early our employer would only pay us for the time we worked.
Who knows what the media has cooked up here?
Parra story = readership up...... that's the story I think
I am glad we have BA in charge of this; unlike previous coach / admin. Common sense is not always common.
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