It is a subject that just does not seem to go away when Chris Sandow’s name is mentioned, and the subject has returned – with Chris Sandow having to deny that his reasons behind a move to the Parramatta Eels, was due to his perceived gambling problem.
The pressure is on Sandow to perform in season 2012, and the man himself knows that – as well as the expectation to perform consistently over the course of the season, from Eels fans.
“There’s pressure, but I’m confident I can have a good year,” Sandow said.
“I’ve just decided to put my head down and work harder.”
With rumours of potential punting habits that Sandow engaged in surfacing, other rumours suggested that the Eels covered Sandow’s rumoured gambling debts – something that the then Eels CEO Paul Osborne, vehemently denied.
In light of all the rumours however, Sandow himself has his own views on the matter, with the Eels halfback saying the chance to win premierships and play good football is his reason behind the move – not money.
“It’s all bull … . ,” Sandow said of the gambling rumours. “People want to talk about it but, mate, I don’t have gambling problems.
“People like to make up stories about me and put it in the paper but it’s not something that bothers me because it’s not true.
“I just wanted to go out west for a change. Working with [Parramatta fullback] Jarryd Hayne was a reason; he is a superstar of the game, this is a huge club and I think I can have a lot of success.”
A sign that the game of NRL is not all about money for Sandow, comes from his upbringing in country Queensland – a place where he was taught to value and shape his views on both money, and health.
“Look, it does blow me away,” Sandow says.
“Mum and Dad had to struggle for me and I grew up in the bush on a mission … even $1000 was a lot of money.
“I never expected to earn money like this when I was growing up in Cherbourg, but I’ve never been about the money, I just love playing football and whatever I get paid is what I get paid.
“I don’t play football for the money.”