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Chris Sandow’s debut for Warrington did not go to plan on Friday night, as the Wolves suffered a heavy 49-10 defeat at Leeds Rhinos in their opening fixture of the Super 8s.
Warrington have struggled all season to find a successful halfback combination – they are yet to find a suitable replacement for Welsh international and club legend Lee Briers, who retired at the end of the 2013 season.
The likes of Chris Bridge, Richie Myler, Stefan Ratchford and Gareth O’Brien have all shone at times as individuals, but finding the right combination of halves has eluded them.
Landing Sandow from Parramatta Eels a little earlier than they expected after his falling out with head coach Brad Arthur should give them a boost as they head into the Super 8s with the hope of moving up from sixth spot, where they finished after 23 rounds, into the top four after 30 rounds and the opportunity to make the grand final for the third time.
The Wolves are currently four points behind fourth place Huddersfield Giants, and it will be hell of a task to make up that gap in the remaining six games – it is possible though, and the Sandow magic could be just what they need to fire. But even though he has been playing regularly for Parramatta in the NRL, it will still take him time to settle in at the Wolves and produce the kind of skill and imagination of which he is capable.
Sandow is anything but predictable and is very much a player in the mould of Albert Kelly, who has been outstanding for Hull KR this season. The space and time Sandow will have in Super League, the ability of his outside backs and his desire to prove a lot of people in Australia wrong, will take Warrington to another level in the long term.
He is fast and strong, skilful, plays off the cuff and has a solid kicking game. He will light up Super league if he keeps his mind on the job and settles in the North West of England.
Sandow struggled with the pressure of being a high-earning NRL star and hasn’t fulfilled his potential. He was fond of often returning to his hometown of Cherbourg, a remote Queensland town, when the pressure got too much – no chance of him doing that from Warrington!
Sandow’s talents won’t be enough to get the Wolves into this season’s semi-finals, but from next season onwards he will become one of the stand-out performers in Super League and could be a contender for the 2016 Man of Steel Award.
Super League is made for him.
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