RUGBY LEAGUE
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Chris Sandow will start a two-year deal with Warrington early after finalising a release from Parramatta before the July 25 Super League transfer deadline.
Sandow, who has signed with Wolves for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, reached agreement with the Eels on the terms of his release on Thursday to allow him to play the remainder of the season for the English club.
Parramatta confirmed Sandow's departure with a two-paragraph statement thanking him for his time at the club and wishing him the best.
Warrington chief executive Roger Draper earlier told British reporters: "We are very hopeful that we will have secured Chris both for 2016 and 2017 and also for the remainder of the season."
Sandow is serving a two-match ban for a shoulder charge on Canterbury fullback Brett Morris but he is expected to be available for Warrington's opening match of the new Super 8s series, in which the top eight Super League teams play each other once ahead of the finals.
Wolves play Castleford this weekend in the final round of the 12-team Super League competition, and also have a Challenge Cup semi-final against Hull that will count in Sandow's suspension.
The deal ends a roller-coaster four-year stint for Sandow at Parramatta, during which he won the club's 2014 player of the year award but also spent time playing for NSW Cup feeder team Wentworthville in each of those seasons.
Despite being dropped to Wentworthville for the round 10 match against the Warriors, Sandow was seventh in Dally M voting at the midway point of the season and his 15 try assists rank second only to North Queensland star Johnathan Thurston.
But he fell out with coach Brad Arthur after criticising the Eels style of play just days after they gave up a 30-6 lead over the Cowboys to lose 36-30 at home.
Arthur told Sandow he was free to leave immediately but, after last week seeking a release to join Warrington, he was refused permission to go.
After a poor performance against Canterbury, the Eels offered him $50,000 to accept an early release.