Chris Sandow

Chris Sandow (born 9 January 1989) is an Indigenous Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a goal-kicking or, he could also play as a.

Sandow was born in Kingaroy, Queensland.

Sandow grew up in Queensland, playing rugby league in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg, a three-hour drive north-west of Brisbane.

He later moved to Brisbane, where he attended Marsden State High School with Israel Folau and Antonio Winterstein.

Sandow is from the Bigambul/Gubbi Gubbi traditional Aboriginal territory.

He has previously played for the Moranbah Miners of the local Grade A Mackay rugby league competition, Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup, Warrington Wolves in the Super League, he has also played for the Parramatta Eels and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League.

He played Colts and Queensland Cup rugby league for the Souths Logan Magpies.

Sandow received junior representative honors when he was selected for the Queensland under-17's and under-19's squads.

This marked the first time since 1999, that the Rabbitohs had beaten the Warriors.

In the following match Sandow scored his first NRL career try against the Gold Coast Titans.

Helping his side to a tight 24–23 victory, that saw them come off the bottom of the table for the first time all season.

Sandow's fairy-tale start to his NRL career continued a week later in round 16, when after trailing 28–4 to the North Queensland Cowboys and coming back to level the scores at 28–28, he kicked the game-clinching field-goal to win the match 29–28, in what became the second biggest comeback victory in the history of the National Rugby League.

In 2006, while in year 12 at Marsden State High School, his classmates were Israel Folau and Antonio Winterstein.

Sandow was selected for the Australian Schoolboys squad that toured Wales, England and France.

In which he was awarded the 'Man-of-the-Match' Award, in the game against the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) squad.

Sandow's first contract was signed with the Gold Coast Titans, where he spent two-years in the lower-grades.

He was touted as a first-string back-up for star NRL, Scott Prince.

But his contract was terminated in early 2008, due to poor discipline.

It was later revealed through the media, that Sandow's partner had given birth to their first child and he was struggling with the distance away from his family.

He primary played in the halves as a or, he could also play as a.

Sandow's junior representative performances had not gone unnoticed, therefore, South Sydney's Recruitment Manager Mark Hughes, signed Sandow to a minor $30,000 contract with the club.

Sandow began playing in the National Youth Competition for the Rabbitohs squad, from the beginning of the 2008 season.

In June 2008, the team's star Craig Wing, suffered a near season-ending injury.

Sandow was named to replace him in the Rabbitohs' NRL first-grade team.

At the time Sandow was to make his début the club were sitting at the bottom of the NRL competition ladder.

Having slumped to 11 losses from 12 matches.

In round 13 during the 2008 season, Sandow made his first-grade début against the Warriors in Auckland, New Zealand at Mt. Smart Stadium.

On début Sandow kicked the game-sealing field-goal in the dying seconds of the match.

To record Souths' second victory of the season, defeating the Warriors 35–28.

Sandow finished his début season in the NRL by winning the Dally M Award – 'Rookie of the Year Award.' He was presented with the award at the end of the 2008 campaign.

He was recognised in the Toyota Cup – 'Team of the Year,' as the starting.

He also received the Inaugural George Green Medal – 'Indigenous Rising Star' of 2008.

In 2012, Sandow signed a four-year deal with the Parramatta Eels, "Reportedly" worth between $1.6 and $2.2 million.

Sandow stated that the reason he was leaving the Rabbitohs was to ensure his children were, "well provided for in the future.”

Sandow's first two-years with the Parramatta Eels proved to be a struggle as his performances were inconsistent and he spent time in the New South Wales Cup, with the Wentworthville Magpies.

In the 2012 season, Sandow was accused by Parramatta Legend Peter Sterling as being "overweight and unfit".

In the 2014 season, Sandow won the Ken Thornett Medal, for being voted as the Parramatta Eels' 'Player of the Season.' The 2015 season would prove to be Sandow's final year at the club.

After a number of on-the field and off-the field incidents.

Including but not limiting crashing a loan-car and abandoning it in an industrial area.

Calling out coach Brad Arthur and being critical of his coaching methods publicly, typing a foul-mouthed rant on Social Media platform Facebook and gambling issues.