Broncos hail Aidan Sezer to solve playmaking woes in 2020
Canberra’s grand final halfback Aidan Sezer is being touted as a potential candidate to solve Brisbane’s playmaking issue, despite the Raider having a year to run on his current deal in the nation’s capital.
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Aidan Sezer is open to an offer from the Brisbane Broncos as NRL and Super League clubs target Canberra’s grand-final halfback amid speculation he could be squeezed out by the Raiders.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the Broncos have some interest in Sezer but they will not get into a bidding war with UK suitors Wigan and Huddersfield for his signature following Sunday night’s Canberra-Roosters decider.
Despite having steered the Raiders to their first grand-final in 25 years, former Titans playmaker Sezer has been buffeted by speculation Sunday night’s decider could be his final game in the lime-green jumper.
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While Sezer is contracted for next season, there are fears he could be unseated by boom British prospect George Williams, who will join the Green Machine next season from Wigan.
Sezer and Cronulla’s Chad Townsend are the two most decorated players coming off-contract next year in the halfback slot the Broncos are desperate to bolster to lead a premiership fightback in 2020.
The man who manages Sezer, leading agent Sam Ayoub, also handles the affairs of Brisbane duo Anthony Milford and Tom Dearden and believes the trio could form a well-balanced play-making spine at the Broncos.
“Aidan has proven he’s a quality playmaker and he’s the sort of half or five-eighth who would work very well with Tom Dearden at the Broncos,” Ayoub said.
“At this stage, Aidan is happy at Canberra, but in saying that the market can change quickly and the off-season can present offers and opportunities.
“We’ve had some approaches and they are genuine expressions of interest.
“I won’t name the clubs out of respect to them but there are clubs in the NRL and overseas that have made inquiries.
“The good judges will tell you he is safe, he has a great kicking game, he is an outstanding goalkicker and is up there with the best defensive halfbacks in the game. Aidan has a lot to offer.”
The Broncos have held preliminary talks with Storm halfback Brodie Croft, but Melbourne will not provide a cent towards a subsidised deal as part of an early release.
Broncos legend Darren Lockyer, a member of Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention commitment, is a fan of Sezer’s left-foot kicking game and ability to provide direction.
“Sezer was in and out of the Canberra team at the start of the year but he’s always been good defensively,” Lockyer said.
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“He is making good decisions in games. His organisation has really improved.”
Sezer has previously lived in Queensland, playing 71 games in four seasons for the Titans, only to quit the club at the end of 2015 amid uncertainty over the Gold Coast’s future.
“He was a little bit uncomfortable with where the Titans were going,” Ayoub said.
“The Titans were keen to keep Aidan but the Raiders showed strong interest and he was keen to test himself at Canberra.
“He showed a lot of character to fight back this season. He was disappointed to be dropped earlier this year (in favour of Sam Williams).
“Ricky put the challenge to him and he responded to it and this has probably been his best year in the NRL.”
Originally published as Broncos hail Aidan Sezer to solve playmaking woes in 2020