There were glimpses of the Chris Sandow of old at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night, but Eels coach Stephen Kearney wants more from his chief playmaker with the game on the line.

Sandow produced his most effective 40 minutes in the blue and gold in the first half against Newcastle, a jinking run to set up a try for Matt Keating and a 40-20 attempt which only just missed the mark punctuating a busy effort.

But the former South Sydney halfback went missing when the Knights grabbed three tries early in the second period to set up their 20-12 NRL win, before coming to life again to spark another late surge.

Kearney said he was pleased with what he saw, but just wanted to see more of it.

“When Chrissy carried the footy into the line I thought he was really causing some problems for them,” Kearney said.

“I think it’s been a progression for him over the last month of footy, he’s got better and better.

“The second half we sort of needed him to get on the footy a bit more instead of waiting for once the game’s – not out of reach, but when we get in a situation where we’re chasing – then we see him come back into the game.

“That’s something we’ll keep working with him.”

Helping Kearney in the endeavour will be new Eels director of coaching Chris Anderson, who was in the coach’s box on Saturday night after signing on with the club last week.

Kearney denied the Eels’ playing style will be altered too much, but welcomed the addition of his former coach during his playing days at Melbourne.

“He’s a guy with 45 years of football experience, seen the good and the bad,” Kearney said.

“He’s had an influence already.”