Sandow

CHRIS Sandow still fills out TAB tickets.Scribbling down what he thinks will be the next winner at Canterbury, Cranbourne, even Angle Park, before rejoining his mates at their regular front bar table.We could tell you none of them pass through the machine, insisting this enigmatic Eel, since walking from rehab seven months ago, is completely comfortable with the little game that now sees him ticking boxes for nothing more than an interest.To keep his place in this group.And for the most part, it’s true.Hayne expects Benji to fire1:33Jarryd Hayne expects Benji Marshall to return to top formNewsYesterday 1:33But as for that rare ticket which still slips through? When, occasionally, those checked boxes become a little, white betting slip?Sandow’s answer for that can be found in why he chip kicks on the first play of a game.“Taking risks,’’ the halfback grins, “it’s part of my magic”.Chrissy Sandow has been gambling his entire life. Chip ‘n’ chase on the first play? Let’s do it. Run on the last? No problem. And back when the shoulder charge was still legal ... this cheeky playmaker rolled the defensive dice two, even three times a game.Chris Sandow admits gambling is part of his footballing creativity. Source: News Corp AustraliaYet, chatting now with The Daily Telegraph at Ringrose Park, Wentworthville, a ground where he has spent far too much time of late, Sandow is explaining how that same attitude — that magic — almost finished him.“How much have I lost punting? No idea,’’ the 25-year-old shrugs. “But no gambler is ever going to tell you that. They can’t.EELS WIN BUT DALEY LOSES FIFTA“I know there have been times where athletes say they lost so many thousands. But I guarantee, they’re guessing.“On the punt, all you ever remember is winning — that’s what takes you back again and again and again.”And just like that we all gasp.Sandow’s gambling became a problem when he left South Sydney for Parramatta. Source: Getty ImagesWondering how this indigenous livewire with everything — the cash, skills, beautiful partner, three healthy children — could so easily come within a short half-head of losing it all?Indeed, two years ago, when the South Sydney poster boy had just inked his $550,000 move to the Eels, this journalist asked Sandow if he was worth the hype? Worth the cash?We recounted how, rather than answer, the new signing had looked “towards the ground. Then the sky. Even at Fuifui Moimoi as he passes”.Yet the real problem was not with the answer, but the question. In the assumption that an Aboriginal mission kid, a boy who only a few years earlier was pooling lunch money with older brothers and cousins, would not only understand, overnight, the value of six figures, but his legitimacy to claiming them.Mannah mic'd up3:24Eels captain Tim Mannah mic'd up for SterloSterloYesterday 3:24“To come from Cherbourg to this,’’ Sandow says now, looking around him, “it’s difficult.“Sometimes I think people judge me without understanding. Without having walked inmy shoes. As a boy growing up, no one I knew really saved money. People like my parents, they struggled and went without a lot themselves so I could do stuff.“But it just seemed like what you had, you spent. And once I signed with Parramatta, I had plenty. I could party, gamble, whatever ... The next week there was always more money coming in.”Sandow back in his tiny hometown of Cherbourg in QLD back in 2008. Source: News LimitedAnd then one day, there wasn’t. Sandow was not only weighed down by a debt he still cannot calculate, but the shame of trying to keep his truth from the club, the press, even those family members whose love is unconditional.So what was it like living a lie?“Almost killed me,’’ he says without pause.“I came to Parramatta on such a high, thinking the money, the expectation, the attention, I could handle it all.Sandow’s mum Rhonda was responsible for getting the halfback back on track. Source: News Corp Australia“But I couldn’t. There was never any question I could play, but the gambling, it took over. Stopped me from focusing on footy. I was punting two, three times as much as my mates and, eventually, couldn’t shoulder the load.“And I understand all that now. Realise how quickly it can all be gone. But back then, I was hurting, lost interest in everything. So I rang Mum and said, ‘I’m coming home’.”And if not for Rhonda Sandow, Cherbourg is where he would be right now.PAR v CRO: Match report3:13Parramatta Eels v Cronulla Sharks: Match reportNRL Match News ReportsMay 12, 2014 3:13“Normally Mum, she just yells at me,’’ he says, smiling. “But this time it was different; she really spoke to me in a black fella way. Explaining that, while I will always be her boy, it’s not me and her anymore, you know. I have kids of my own now. A family. So there’s no more running home when things go wrong.”Which is why Sandow, having lost weight, got fit and finished his rehabilitation, is doing what he does best: gambling.Sandow finally looks to be rediscovering his best form. Source: News Corp AustraliaTaking the same risks that, as a teen, not only saw him emerge from the safety blanket that is Cherbourg — walking out when every inch of him screamed ‘stay’ — but eventually making NRL debuts, winning Dally M Rookie gongs and playing the type of footy that saw him chip, regather and score against Cronulla last Monday night.“F..., that one was good,’’ he laughs. “I don’t mean to swear but that play, winning ... not many people know but, after games of footy where Parramatta lose, I still cry.”So the boy from Cherbourg, he’s back?“Ah, you can put that I’m getting there,’’ he grins. “Bringing back the magic.”

"Yes i agree with your team list 100% as for Hopegood i think he needs to find form in reggies or 17. 18 swap with Doorey
I do think his form is not there .

In saying this do you guys think Moses last 2 games were not what he is capable of dishing…"

"Would Parra consider signing the May brothers from the Wests Tigers ?
I do think both would be a good get if possible for next sesaon aswe all know thanks to Lomax players contracts dont mean much.

For me the players i would like to snare from the…"

Replies

hindy May 17, 2014 at 5:34am

Good on him, hopefully carves them up again today
Craig Bridger May 17, 2014 at 6:39am

Well done Chris - The fact that you can now talk openly about the demon, tells me you are on top of it. & the proof is in the way you are now playing. You look fit & happy for the first time since you signed with the Eels & finally look like you are comfortable in your skin & at this club. - I guess that's maturity & being responsible for your young family. -So impressed with the way you've fought your way back, no dummy spitting, just hard work. - We Eels supporters are right behind you mate!!
coco May 17, 2014 at 7:04am

darkie the nrl should do this as the manager of Chris definitely isn't. he should change managers. he is not getting his 10% worth
ParraLAD May 17, 2014 at 8:41am

That's a really good read! Good to see Chrissy has got his life back on track and is playing good footy.
macybrown May 17, 2014 at 8:59am

Good on ya Chris.

BA and the club have been fantastic for Sandow and handled his comeback perfectly.

So glad he is in repair and getting there.
Yobz May 17, 2014 at 9:36am

So he still fills out TAB tickets, and the occasional one "slips through" and turns into a real bet. How long until these "occasional" ones become more regular. It doesn't sound like Chrissy has beaten his addiction at all. Why does he feel the need to even fill those tickets out? Because he is addicted to filling them out would be my guess.
- blue&gold blooded > Yobz May 18, 2014 at 5:49pm
  
  Addiction is a daily life long battle. Different people find different ways of managing. This might be Sandows. As for it's effectiveness, only time will tell but here's hoping that he's found his winning formula, figuratively speaking of course.
Yobz May 17, 2014 at 9:40am

Darkie - it depends on the manager. The NRL was going to make a requirement that managers meet with their clients at least twice a year, because the NRL thinks in at least some cases there is very little contact.
Also some players are signed to manager contracts which automatically roll over at a specified date with large exit fees, making switching managers difficult for some players.
Raid May 17, 2014 at 12:04pm

Everytime parra was struggling people would refer to sandows pay packet.
Well let me say he's worth every dollar if not more!
Only took some decent players around him to prove how much class and talent that he posseses!
IH8Manly & IEspeciallyH8Qld May 17, 2014 at 1:18pm

This can only be good for Parra and for Chris.

This reply was deleted.

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