Warrington Wolves halfback Chris Sandow admits that he feels he’s finally found his feet in Super League, after inspiring the Wolves to an opening-day win against Leeds Rhinos last Thursday.
Sandow made one and scored the other of Warrington’s two tries as they knocked off the defending champions at Headingley in the first game of the new season, ensuring Warrington started 2016 with a bang.
And Sandow told League Express that he found the going difficult when he arrived at the club midway through last year, admitting that his time in the NRL and subsequent acrimonious exit had left him drained.
“It was tough coming over in my position midway through a year,” he said.
“I came over and expected really big things from myself, if I’m being honest, but it didn’t quite happen like that sadly.
“I’ve had a brilliant pre-season though and I’m feeling great, and this was such a fantastic way to start things off in 2016. My target is just to be more and more consistent all year.
“It was a very draining end to things in the NRL. There was a lot of negative stuff back home, which was really disappointing, and really upsetting, but Tony (Smith) and Simon (Moran) gave me the opportunity to start afresh and the boys have been so welcoming.
“My goal now is to repay them with more performances like that.”
Sandow was quick to praise his team-mates in light of the victory – particularly after a superb rearguard effort in defence.
“That was a tough win for us out there. They’re the champions after all and they threw a lot at us throughout the game, and it was a really tight game, the kind you want to have in the first week of the new season.
“We talked about working hard on our defensive efforts all pre-season because we feel our attack is in a good place with the players we’ve got in the group. Our defence won us that game and hopefully we can carry on and back it up next week in the second round.”
When asked about his superb kick for Kevin Penny’s try, he said: “That’s what I love doing for the team; the forwards do all the hard work and drive the team forward. Kurt and I can play really well off the back of that.
“The outside backs do some remarkable stuff too, which makes us look great.”
With a ten-day break between that Leeds clash and Sunday’s game against Hull KR, Sandow hopes the Wolves can prepare properly as they attempt to make it two from two.
He said: “We’ve drawn a line under this one already; our focus has to shift quickly because the games come thick and fast in Super League.
“We get a break now and hopefully we can use the recovery time really well and apply ourselves as well as we have done in the first game, particularly defensively.”
