Souths savour last moments of Sandow - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Souths savour last moments of Sandow

Ben Horne 19/08/2011 10:52:39 PM Comments (0)

The question has to be asked, what on earth will South Sydney do next NRL season without their miracle worker Chris Sandow?

The freakish halfback has an uncanny knack for executing the thrilling finish, and yet again he got the Rabbitohs out of jail in their 26-24 golden point heart-stopper against North Queensland.

Sandow will never die wondering, and with just minutes left on the clock, Sandow yet again rolled the dice and won - latching onto an intercept to dash 80 metres.

He was run down by Matt Bowen, but the game-breaking play set up a try to Chris McQueen in the opposite corner two tackles later.

The 22 year-old appeared so distressed and disorientated after the epic dash off a Johnathan Thurston pass, that he didn't appear capable of taking the conversion from the sideline to tie the match up.

But with little preparation time, the Parramatta-bound master slotted the kick from the right touch-line and leapt for joy as golden point was summoned.

Sandow thrives in the clutch and when presented with a controversial penalty goal in the first half of overtime, he potted it from 30 metres out, right in front.

"I think the one from in front (was tougher) because I did a lot of practice during the week from the sideline and it paid off tonight," he said.

"But I was nervous as hell I think everyone would have been from the sideline at that time of the game.

"Yeah I was (exhausted), I spoke to Matty (Bowen) after the game I told him he should have let me score. I was pretty tired after that.

"We do we take each game really confidently so hopefully GI and Nathan's (injured stars Greg Inglis and Nathan Merritt) back next week and give us a really big boost."

Even though the overwhelming emotion for South Sydney at the moment is ecstasy that their finals chances have been kept alive, there's also a gnawing realisation that one of the game's most instinctive and naturally gifted footballers won't wear red and green next season.

Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney must have watched the final moments of the match with a wry smile, then pressed replay and watched it over again.

Rabbitohs coach John Lang had to endure another heart attack finish, but his replacement next season Michael Maguire would take the palpitations any day of the week instead of the far more painful scenario of watching Sandow flourish at another club.

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