Wests Tigers recruit Aidan Sezer opens up on NRL return, and ‘unfinished business’ in Australia

He’s a Western Sydney boy back in Australia after a stint in the Super League, Aidan Sezer talks to PAMELA WHALEY about his goals at the Wests Tigers.

Aidan Sezer is back in the NRL at the Wests Tigers, and has unfinished business in Australia. Picture: Wests Tigers

Aidan Sezer felt like he had more in the tank when he left the NRL at the end of 2019.

Losing the most controversial grand final in recent history with Canberra just added to the sting of it all.

The now infamous six-again call ringing in his ears, Sezer boarded a plane for England where he drowned out the noise over four years with Huddersfield and then Leeds.

Now, the ex-Raiders and Titans half is preparing for an NRL comeback with the Wests Tigers feeling like he still has a point to prove.

“Going over for the first couple of years was good for me, I feel like it rejuvenated me a bit after eight years in the NRL,” the 32-year-old says as he readies to start pre-season training at Concord next week.

Aidan Sezer is back in the NRL at the Wests Tigers, and has unfinished business in Australia. Picture: Wests Tigers

“When you lose one, it burns you. I’ve never watched the game back again.

“At first I was questioning moving over (to England), my last game being the NRL grand final at a decent age still, I was 28 or so, I still felt like I was in my prime.

“It felt like unfinished business.

“But coming back now, being a Sydney boy and to be among family and friends, having the opportunity to be at the Tigers, everything added up.

“Hopefully I can contribute to the club and we can have a good year.

“To get the chance to come home, close to home, I’m super grateful to Benji and the club for. I’ll do everything I can to contribute.”

The last time he was in the NRL, Sezer and the Raiders had their hearts broken in the 2019 grand final. Picture: Jonathan Ng

HOMECOMING

Sezer wanted the chance to come back to Australia for a while now.

So when Tigers legend and new coach Benji Marshall came knocking with an offer and a chance to play and live in Sydney, it was a no-brainer.

“I’m super motivated, I’ve been super motivated to come back for a couple of years and that’s being completely transparent and honest. I’ve been watching the NRL and just thinking, I want to get home,” he says.

“Being a boy from western Sydney, all I wanted to do was play in the NRL and to be able to do it for a while before I left for England is something I was grateful for, but after my stint in the UK I’m so keen to test myself again.

“I’ve watched (the NRL) closely. I’ve got friends in a few teams and kept track of them. The game has sped up a bit with the rules changes, but I’m trying to get myself in the best shape I can so I’m not caught off guard.”

Sezer grew up in Bankstown, but spent his early years at the Gold Coast Titans, before moving to Canberra. Picture: Jerad Williams

Sezer grew up in Bankstown where his family still live, but spent four years at the Gold Coast and another four with the Raiders before going overseas.

It’s been his dream to live and work close to home, and he’s been going into the Tigers three days a week before officially starting his pre-season on Monday.

His contract with the Tigers is just for one season, but he’ll likely be given the reins as an experienced No.7 to help develop ex-Dragons half Jayden Sullivan and teenage prodigy Latu Fainu.

It’s part of a new era for the Tigers under Marshall as a rookie coach and without Luke Brooks as starting halfback heading into the season for the first time since 2014.

FRESH START

The time away did Sezer good.

He comes back to the NRL more grateful for the opportunity than he ever was before.

“I felt like I’ve grown as a person, definitely matured,” he says.

“Coming back I feel like I won’t take the NRL for granted, not that I ever did, but when you leave something you realise how good you had it or how good it is to be in an NRL set up.

Sezer believes his time at Leeds did him a world of good, as he returns to the NRL more experienced and grateful. Picture: Getty Images

“Not taking anything away from the Super League, but the game isn’t put on a pedestal over there like it is here. You realise how super this competition is.”

For this reason he knows how desperate Tigers fans are for success.

They finished 2023 with a second-straight wooden spoon and Sezer knows that pressure will be on his shoulders to help turn those results around.

“Fans live and breathe rugby league and a lot of their life hinges on what we do on the weekend,” he says.

“We have a duty as professional rugby league players to look after the people who support us.

“I think every bit of success is derived from hard work and I’ll do everything I can to help turn things around.”

Originally published as Wests Tigers recruit Aidan Sezer opens up on NRL return, and ‘unfinished business’ in Australia