Aidan Sezer ready to step-up for Canberra in the absence of Josh Hodgson

AIDAN Sezer has no more time for words or excuses — all that matters is pulling the pieces of his career together and becoming the player he knows he can be.

AIDAN Sezer has no more time for words or excuses — all that matters is pulling the pieces of his career together and becoming the player he knows he can be.

The injury to star hooker Josh Hodgson has thrust the spotlight onto Sezer and halves partner Blake Austin and much of the talk around Canberra this pre-season has been whether the duo can take control of the side in Hodgson’s absence.

Sezer knows he can do it. He’s done it before after all. But after two seasons in Canberra he admits have been underwhelming at times, the 26-year old believes the moment has come for him and Austin to reach their full potential as a halves combination.

“We’ve had a couple of years under our belt now. We’re coming into our seventh, eighth year of first grade now,” Sezer told The Daily Telegraph.

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Aidan Sezer during Raiders training. Picture Kym Smith

“We’ve been around a while and we know what needs to be done. We need to perform, there’s no two ways about it.

“I’ve probably been disappointed in my performances since I got down to Canberra.

“Touching the ball more, being more of a presence on the field. I guess there’s a correlation there with leading players and how much they touch the ball.

“With halves, I think quantity brings more quality in your game. But talk is cheap, you can talk as much as you want.

“We need action, and that’s one thing I’m working towards this year.

“I’m 27 this year and I just want to perform, I just want to come off the field this week and be happy with my performance, feel like I really had an impact on the team and the result.”

The former Titans’ ability is unquestioned, and it comes through in flashes, temporary moments that make Sezer look as though his potential is unlimited.

During Canberra’s unsuccessful late season charge last year, Sezer was one of their best, highlighted by his incredible golden point 40/20 against the Dragons in Round 19 that paved the way for Elliott Whitehead’s winning try.

Aidan Sezer says it’s time for him to perform. Picture Kym Smith

By the end of the year, Sezer had accumulated 22 try assists, the highest mark of his career and the seventh best total in the league, and put together the best stretch of his two years in the capital.

The run of form came after a difficult middle period of the season where the Raiders seemed to go through a narrow, heartbreaking loss every other week and Sezer’s confidence took a real battering.

Down in the dumps and low on belief, Sezer climbed out of the pit by vowing to enjoy his footy — something the rugby league obsessive has lost sight of in the past.

“That’s my mentality. Cut all the negatives and just play footy.

“Sometimes playing rugby league at a professional level you forget the enjoyment of it all.

“You just feel the pressure of it all and the result is (the only thing) that matters. I think sometimes when you have fun all that stuff will come.

“You try and be positive but its tough when your team has lost two on the trot and you know you’ve got a quality and talented roster around you and you’re not performing up to the mark.

“We’re all here cause we’re good footy players, being a bit more positive and enjoying training and playing will only have a positive impact on your performances on the weekend.”

A possible move to hooker to cover for Hodgson has been mooted and Sezer spent some time at dummy half during Canberra’s trial loss to Canterbury last week.

While Sezer said he had trained at hooker at points during the off season would move to nine if that was what coach Ricky Stuart required, his preference was to remain in the halves.

Originally published as Aidan Sezer ready to step-up for Canberra in the absence of Josh Hodgson