FOR the first time since making the decision to end his career in England, a candid Chris Sandow has revealed why he won’t be returning to Warrington next season.

It was a little over 12 months ago that Sandow first thought about turning his back on his lucrative Super League deal to return to Australia.

His uncle Ashley Hill, someone he considers a father figure, was battling an unwinnable fight with cancer and Sandow was on the other side of the world in Warrington.

When he returned to Australia to be with his family, his nephews only knew him as the uncle from TV. As an extremely proud family man, the distance began to eat away at him.

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The Ladbrokes Star of the Ring charity fight night will be broadcast live and exclusive on Fox Sports 1HD from 8.30pm on December 9 from the Hordern Pavilion.

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At this stage he was just a few months into his deal with the Wolves after he was released from his contract with Parramatta.

He was homesick but returned to England for pre-season at the end of 2015 after burying his uncle.

For another 11 months he felt uncomfortable being away from his loved ones.

Chris Sandow of Warrington is tackled. Source: Getty Images

But it wasn’t until he returned to Australia a few weeks ago after playing in the Challenge Cup final and Super League grand final that he knew he couldn’t go back. He needed to put his family ahead of his rugby league career.

“It’s a long way from home and I’m really family orientated,” Sandow told foxsports.com.au.

“When I went over there, my uncle, my dad’s brother, passed away from cancer. We’re really close. He’s like a dad to me.

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“I came over for his last couple of weeks when he got really sick but then he lasted another month and he passed away so I had to come back in a matter of weeks.

“It broke my heart. I’ve grown up with all my family around me. My uncle is a big part of me being where I am today and it’s sad I couldn’t see him out.

“I promised myself that’s not going to happen again. When I got home from England I got comfortable and emotionally attached to my family. It was a tough decision to make.

“Seeing my brothers and their kids who hardly know me, that breaks my heart. They see me as uncle Chris on TV (but) they don’t see how loving and caring I am and that sits in the back of my head every day. That’s not me as a person.”

While explaining his reasons for walking away from the final year of his Super League contract, Sandow freely admits his departure was handled poorly.

Early this week the club issued a statement declaring Sandow was in “clear breach of his contract” for not reporting to pre-season training.

An honest Sandow, 27, said he was sorry for the messy exit and that a breakdown in communication between his management and the club had left a bad taste in his mouth.

Chris Sandow grabs his own chip and chase. Source: News Corp Australia

“It’s been building for quite a long time,” he said of his exit.

“I should have been a man about it and explained to them what was happening.

“I’m from an Aboriginal community and communication isn’t something that always comes natural to me

“I’m not a big communicator in the video sessions and I let my football do the talking on the paddock.

“I went over there at the back end of last year and it’s a good club to go to. But it’s hard to go back knowing what I’ve got here in Australia and that’s family.

“They’re number one. Family is the most important thing to me and that’s why I made the decision not to go back to England”

Chris Sandow in action for the Eels. Source: News Corp Australia

Preparing to enter the boxing ring on December 9 in his professional fight debut against Todd Carney, Sandow said he hasn’t given a thought to his next move.

While speculation about a return to the NRL will continue over the coming weeks, the former Rabbitohs and Eels halfback wouldn’t bite on a potential return.

He said his only focus is on the Ladbrokes Star of the Ring charity fight.

“To come back to the NRL would be an honour,” he said.

“Leading up to this fight is all I’m worried about.”

This writer is on Twitter: @Nath_Ryan

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