Talk about a PR disaster. It’s hard to come off looking like the bad guy when you’ve just lost one of the best young players in the NRL. Yet somehow South Sydney managed to do this and a whole lot more.
The Bunnies’ reaction to Chris Sandow’s four-year-deal with Parramatta was nothing short of bizarre.
They released a statement in which South Sydney CEO Shane Richardson declared that Sandow had “met his Alan Bond.”
It was a reference to the late Kerry Packer’s deal in which he sold Channel 9 to Bond for $1 billion and then bought it back at a much lower price.
Sandow has scored the deal of a lifetime. The Eels wouldn’t confirm what their new recruit would be paid, but they certainly had plenty to spend. Do the Rabbitohs also feel they’ll be able to buy him back at a reduced price in the future?
Bunnies owner Russell Crowe then tweeted: “Chris Sandow to Parramatta at $550k a year.”
Since when do club owners reveal a player’s future salary in cyberspace? Crowe does have form in this area though. He famously went on the Jay Leno show in America to boast about the big bags of money they chucked at Greg Inglis.
That little statement almost ruined the deal, as the NRL investigated whether all aspects of Inglis’ contract complied with the salary cap.
Sympathy for Souths should’ve been everywhere you turned. Instead, it was non-existent.
Eels CEO Paul Osborne hinted that Sandow had felt unloved and that made it easier for Osborne to swoop. That was backed up by South Sydney winger Nathan Merritt revealing the Bunnies should’ve tried to secure the services of their star half-back sooner.
A few Brisbane Broncos fans also contacted me yesterday to say they felt karma had come back to bite the Bunnies, after they were seen to have stolen Inglis away from Brisbane.
It’s hard to understand why South Sydney felt so bitter. This is a part of modern day rugby league.
In the past, they’ve offered the likes of Dave Taylor and Roy Asotasi big money to move to Redfern.
Did the Eels do anything different?
At least Parramatta didn’t parade Sandow in front of the media, like South Sydney did when Craig Wing was still contracted to the Roosters in 2007.
Sandow has come out as the overwhelming winner. If the Eels are paying him $550k a season, as the Gladiator says, then that is ridiculous.
The little number 7 is good, but is he really worth more than half a million dollars a season?
Only time will tell.
David Heidelberg
Guest
Osbourne has made some dud buys, Tahu, Poore, Shackleton etc but Sandow seems a little better. His deal does seem large, but with a new tv deal on the way the salary cap will rise, and the biggest beneficiaries will be star halfbacks. What else would the Eels do with the extra cash, give it to Geoff Robinson?
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Speaking as a Bunnies supporter, if you dont want them to leave as free agents, dont let them get to the last year of their contract. They should have signed him long term. They didnt. Good luck to him. PS Craig Coleman was loyal to the last.
Cicero
Guest
Please someone tell me the eelsong , hillsong business isn't true. I can just see Ray Price, Ronny Lynch, the Thornett boys, Bob O'Relliy and Billy Rayner lining up to belt out a few hymns.. It used to be a few heads
Stu
Guest
I can't believe people still knock the storm and Brisbane because of News. Why are we knocking them yet praising the state of the game hoping for a big new tv deal. The ARL was dying fast Pre SL, post SL the game is going well, better than ever. Get over it! This isn't the issue. Bottom line, if Souths didn't spend so much on Taylor and Inglis, they would have enough to offer Sandow a decent contract. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Crashy
Guest
Great headline by the way - had a good chuckle there - love the phrase bunny-boiler
Danno1
Guest
Sandow is an entertainer, but he is not worth the money. Good on him for getting it, but Souths will not win the comp with Sandow, I doubt they'll win it with Sutton either. Letting him go will not lessen their chances of winning a comp. Parra signing him will not enhance their chances of winning the comp, but it may get a few more punters through the door. The ego battle between Hayne & Sandow would be worth the price of admission let alone who they're playing! Sandow does outstanding things every game he plays, but he also does stupid or lazy things that negate his brilliance every game he plays. Sure he's fun to watch, but would you like to be his coach or team mate? I doubt many would like to be in that situation.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Apparently there's a core group of players (incl Hayne) and Paul Osbourne that are right into Hillsong to the point that they're having prayers before the game and at half time. I've heard that they even sing hymns in the sheds before a game but that sounds too ridiculous to be true. Anyway, apparently this hillsong group has formed a bit of a clique and it's alienating a few of the other players (incl Hindmarsh). Rumour has it that Anderson tried to stamp it out and that played a big part in his sacking. Kearney's supposedly not a fan but feels he can't do anything about it. This is one of the reasons their recruitment has been less than successful and why there's players lining up to leave. All sounds a bit far-fetched but I've heard this a few time over the past 12 months from a variety of people.
Mickle
Guest
The News Ltd Broncos will be found out... Just like the News Ltd Storm were last season
Jaceman
Guest
Parramatta have Sandow, Hayne and Mortimer on big money. Anyone else?? Moi moi?
Jaceman
Guest
so what - your post is irrelevant - the discussion was about Souths....
John
Guest
The $550,000 estimate and the Hillsong story both sound sound like rubbish.
oikee
Guest
Mate, i would be gutted also if my club lost a player like Sandow. We have Wallace the lionheart, not a world beater, but he gives 110%, cant ask for more than that.
oikee
Guest
I would be happy to pay Soward 1 million a year, just for his kicking game alone.
oikee
Guest
You would not pay more than 200 thousand for Sandow, ? So would you maybe pay 200 thousand for a Scotty Porter, a Robson, a Orford and sit with the cellar dwellers until you find a Cronk, 800 thousand, Thurston, 1.2 million, thats how much the cowboys pay him, or maybe even wait for a old wallace, or Finch, still likely to cost you 6-7 hundred thousand. Mate live for the moment, live for today, tommorrow you might be gone, look again at Orford. And a Old Wallace or Finch wont set your team on fire. Finch left their remember.
oikee
Guest
I think Osbourne would be rubbing his hands having missed out on Orford. :)
oikee
Guest
Dont be fooled Answer, Lockyer was making 1.2 million a year for the last 5-6 years. It was in the courier mail, that included his 3rd party deals. Cronk would be getting close to 700 thousand maybe slightly more, 500 thousand is not bad for a long term player, Sandow is a crowd pleaser if nothing else. His game this year has been outstanding, remember the bunnies have heaps of injuiries. If the Broncos signed him for this much, i would not even bat a eyelid. Arh, Alfie Langer, now i remember they all said he was to small, you will never win a premiership with him. One player is not a team, but Alfie lifted them in so many games.
melbourne rabbit
Guest
@oikee Well you seem to appreciate the game overall - not so attached emotionally to a club or player in that respect. Nothing wrong in that. Or can separate it from your club loyalties.... I can appreciate that as well, but this situation is hitting home where my football heart lives. I guess the game is more than, to use your analogy, just a cicus to me. While it's still just a game, and fun to get into, it's also about mateship and team and community spirit and hangin' out together and all that - somewhere to hang your heart on, and ride successes and failures with your mates and family, and people you've never even met. And, different people feel things more deeply than others. I think souths folk tend to be like that. Certainly historically. Well, that was deep......
M1tch
Roar Guru
Players are worth what they can get, Souths obviously didnt think he was worth more than 250k and/or down the list after Sutton and co Eels are in deep trouble, and need recuitment, i wouldnt pay anything above 200k for sandow myself though
oikee
Guest
Cant tell you how many comments in the papers where souths members are ripping up their memberships. Seems petty, but if they drop below 10 thousand for next year, maybe while they are down , lets kick them out of the comp. Nothing worse than fair weather fans. And get rid of the pride of the league. They have no pride. Rusty must be ready to walk. Haha, Hehe. Arh,, rugby league fans, always ready to sink the boot into the weak, the dying, the under acheivers, the vunrebal. Size 10 for you rusty and your weak rabbits. p.s you overpaid Taylor you stole from the Broncos also, he is not winning you games, as a matter of fact, when he is over the line he passes the ball and it gets intercepted, hillarious, great coaching Langy. Jump on board, its our way of saying we love ya.
oikee
Guest
Yes, i know what your saying MR, and your right in a way, trusting 3rd party deals can backfire also, just ask Gasnier. Really it is up to your club to keep you 3rd party wise, what are you worth to your fans is one way of looking at it, i was just starting to enjoy Sandow and his Bunny hopping ways. He is a entertainer. Mate, i pay good money to be entertained, the Eels now will be providing this for my benifit. I watch the Storm for their stars, Cowboys with Thurston Bowen, Broncos because of Lockyer Hodges and the new talent, Tigers with Marshal, so on. The Gold Coast had already realised the Indris factor, and they spent big to get him, which they will be rewarded. Looking at what i have said, maybe rugby league is a circus. :)