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He nearly carried South Sydney to the NRL finals on his tiny frame, but star Parramatta recruit Chris Sandow isn’t feeling the pressure to fix a dismal Eels season on his own.
And he’s found an ally in captain Nathan Hindmarsh, who believes it would be unfair to expect all of Parramatta’s woes to be solved by the attacking dynamo.
Plenty is expected of the Cherbourg junior after he was lured to the Eels on a big-money four-year deal.
But the 22-year-old didn’t look like he was too affected by it as he joined his new teammates on a construction site as part of a week-long “back to work” program.
“I’m not thinking about the pressure,” Sandow told reporters on Tuesday.
“Just about playing good footy and doing the right things for the team and see how we work as a group.
“I’ll just play off the back of that. It should be really good.
“… I wouldn’t say I was carrying Souths (this year). Everyone did their job there and I think that’s what is expected at Parramatta as well.
“A lot of pressure is off me too with Jarryd (Hayne) and Benny (Roberts) there.”
The Eels endured a terrible 2011, in which they came within a whisker of collecting the wooden spoon for the first time since 1972.
In addition to drawing with St George Illawarra in round 13, the Eels lost eight matches by six points or less – a stat which was not lost on Sandow.
“Parramatta had an up and down year, the same as South Sydney. I think they lost really close games that they should’ve won,” he said.
But Hindmarsh argued it was not solely up to Sandow to shut down the close games.
“It’s a bit hard to put all the pressure on Chris to be the one who gets us results,” Hindmarsh said.
“Chris has been on fire with South Sydney before he has come here, and we hope that continues but we’re not going to say ‘Chrissy, you’ve got to do it for us’.
“We’ve all got to do a job as well. It’s a team effort.”
Two players who will be expected to help Sandow out in attack are five-eighth candidates Hayne and Roberts.
Former Canterbury No.6 Roberts wants first crack, and it appears Hayne is more than happy to give it to him.
“Fullback would be my preferred spot,” he said.
“… I’m not too focused (about playing) five-eighth. I’m just worried about pre-season.
“I’d prefer to play fullback at the start of the year and, if that happens it happens, but if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
“My main focus is to get as fit as I can, get as fast as I can and just do the best I can for the team.”
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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The Crowd Says (4) | Page 1 of Comments
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November 2nd 2011 @ 4:13pm
Gary Russell-Sharam said | November 2nd 2011 @ 4:13pm | Report comment
Sandow is really good but he will need assistance from the others. IMO Hayne should actually play some football instead of pussy footing around like a prima donna. If he runs straight and hard he will make more ground than he does with the Cunnamulla two step that he does each time he gets the ball, he reminds me of Cooper for the Wallabies. I think Sandow will give them that extra direction that they need and they should improve dramatically. I’d look for a final eight placing in 2012
November 10th 2011 @ 3:04pm
Dan said | November 10th 2011 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
Gary why are you being a HATER???
First of all Hayne has been doing the two step for years and it’s always worked out for him until this year where basically he has the most targeted man in football. The guy has more pressure on him then ANYONE in the game ( possible the history of the game ). He can’t do bloody anything right. Poor guy is a product of his own sucess.
So rather then ragging out all the time how about you actually appreciate that we actually playing for the eels and cease the prima donna calls.
Oh, stop wtaching the ‘Roast; for goodness sakes your suckinbg the life out of the game with negatively comments.
November 3rd 2011 @ 11:07am
Gareth said | November 3rd 2011 @ 11:07am | Report comment
The real question is where Roberts fits into the grand scheme. The way I see it, there’s a couple of options. He can play on the left and link up with a patch of ground a couple of metres behind Hayne, occasionally taking the option to throw cutouts for the sideline, or he can play on the right and lob balls to Hayne’s feet/the opposite sideline. Either way, it gives the opposition diverse attacking options.
November 3rd 2011 @ 11:44am
Eels deal said | November 3rd 2011 @ 11:44am | Report comment
The Eels need structure and consistency. Last year we had a different half back 5 8th combination week to week. Choose two blokes and keep them there. Sandow has the only two things a half back needs – speed and skill. Partner him up with Benny Roberts, keep Hayne at the back and have Keating start with Casey off the bench. 2012 Premiership here wecome!