A fit and happy Chris Sandow is poised to light up the NRL again according to indigenous rugby league icon Dean Widders.

Since his big-money move from South Sydney to Parramatta ahead of the 2012 season, Sandow has struggled to find his feet at the Eels as the club struggled to successive wooden spoons.

But under new coach Brad Arthur and on the back of some canny recruiting, this season is promising to be a new dawn for the Eels.

With new signings Corey Norman and Will Hopoate outside him, Sandow has plenty to work with if he can make the famous Eels No.7 jersey his.

Widders, who like Sandow made a name for himself at the Rabbitohs and the Eels and is now an indigenous welfare officer with the NRL, believes Sandow can consistently recapture the eyecatching form he showed early on in his career.

“One thing with Chris Sandow is that when he is on top key he changes the way the whole club plays, he gets the whole club buzzing,” Widders told AAP.

“So hopefully we can see him do that this year and I’m sure if he does he will light Parramatta up.

“He is going along really well. He is looking really fit, I saw him last week and was talking to him and he is in a good space at the moment.

“So Chrisy, when he is in a positive frame of mind football is an easy game for him to play.”

Sandow said last week he has put poor eating habits and gambling issues behind him in a bid to cement his first grade spot and Widders says he can play a key role in an Eels’ revival.

“Parramatta are looking for someone to get them going,” said Widders, a veteran of 204 first grade games.

“It is a great place to play rugby league especially when the Eels are going well.

“Willie Tonga is another player who people have also questioned his place in the game at different times.

“Willie is looking for a big year and Chris will jump into that.

“I’m really excited for Parramatta this year I think they will go well.