NRL signing news: Aidan Sezer plans NRL return at Bulldogs in 2022

A playmaker feeding frenzy is approaching with a new name joining the likes of Shaun Johnson and Corey Norman on the open market for 2022.

South Sydney Rabbitohs rising stars

Aidan Sezer is poised to make a shock return to the NRL with the former Canberra star eyeing off a homecoming after two seasons in the Super League.

In a move that will see him go head to head with Shaun Johnson, Anthony Milford and Corey Norman, the player who took the Raiders to the grand final in 2019 will join the NRL open market next week.

News Corp Australia can reveal at least two NRL club have already expressed an unofficial interest in Sezer, who has starred for the Huddersfield Giants since leaving the NRL in 2019.

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Also a former Titan, Sezer has instructed his manager to negotiate with NRL clubs in a move that will make him the playmaking wildcard on the open market.

With his junior club the Bulldogs in the market for a No. 7, Sezer may get the chance to full fill his childhood dream of playing NRL for Canterbury.

The Bulldogs were this week linked to Shaun Johnson but Sezer’s shock availability may force them to rethink their interest in the unwanted Cronulla star.

Aidan Sezer guided the Raiders to a grand final but isnot expected to return to Canberra. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

Sezer has always been considered the one that got away by Bulldogs fans and has publicly expressed a desire to one day return to Belmore.

The East Hills junior made his debut for the Titans in 2012 and played 177 NRL games before switching to the Super League after the Raiders bitter grand final defeat to Melbourne in 2019.

Sezer is unlikely to return to the Raiders even though Canberra are looking to sign a halfback after parting ways with George Williams.

The No. 7, who helped steer Canberra into the grand final, recently opened up about the reason he left both the club and the NRL while in his prime.

“It wasn‘t to be, was it?” Sezer said.

“I think there’s a lot of things that went on in my time in Canberra.

“I sought a move away and obviously said to my agent that I needed a move to refresh my career because there was a time there I didn’t want to play there.

“I wasn’t enjoying it. I wasn’t getting the satisfaction I once did from rugby league.”

Sezer has scored 140 points in his 22 games for Huddersfield.

Aidan Sezer has impressed in his time at Huddersfield Giants but is eyeing a return back to Australia. Picture: Getty Images.

RABBITOHS PIECE TOGETHER 2022 ROSTER

Jason Demetriou is piecing together the South Sydney roster for season 2022 and the Rabbitohs coach-in-waiting wants to see Dane Gagai, who is off-contract, stay at the club.

Gagai alongside rising forward Jaydn Su’A and veteran playmaker Benji Marshall are the club’s most high-profile off-contract stars heading into next season.

The centre, who is currently in Queensland Maroons camp, has been identified as a retention priority by Demetriou.

“I know the club is in talk with Dane at the moment. I’m a massive fan of Dane and hopefully we can keep him at the club and it’s something we are trying to do,” Demetriou told The Daily Telegraph.

While the club is working to keep Gagai, it’s understood retaining Su’A, who has drawn interest from rival clubs like Brisbane, might be a trickier proposition given salary cap restraints.

Dane Gagai was arguably best on ground for the Rabbitohs in Indigenous Round and is a key retention target for Jason Demetriou. Picture: Getty Images.

Demetriou will take the reigns from mastercoach Wayne Bennett at the end of this season but has been building his roster in preparation.

As well as promoting five boom rookies – in Lachlan Ilias, Blake Taaffe, Peter Mamouzelos, Terrell Kalokalo and Davvy Moale – on Thursday, the Rabbitohs have recently secured the futures of Latrell Mitchell, Campbell Graham, Cameron Murray, Keaon Koloamatangi, Jaxson Paulo and Hame Sele.

“I’m very excited about where the roster is at, in a salary cap world you have to manage the transition of players and it happens all the time,” Demetriou said.

“We are comfortable with where we are at and we have some really exciting players but the most important thing for me is our crop of players in their early to mid-20s are hopefully going to be at the club for a long time.

“It is vital to keep guys coming through your system that have that passion for the club and the hunger to wear that jersey and be successful.”

Incoming Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou is happy with how the 2022 roster is shaping, despite losing Adam Reynolds. Picture: Getty Images.

Former Rabbitohs big man George Burgess has expressed a desire to make an NRL return. Burgess, who played 149 games over eight seasons for South Sydney, is recovering from major hip surgery after moving to back home to England to play for Wigan in July last year.

While Demetriou admitted Burgess is currently not an option for South Sydney, the coach did not entirely rule out a return to Redfern.

“It’s not something that we have thought about, I think for George it’s about getting healthy first and seeing what happens from there,” Demetriou said.

“He’s gone through major hip surgery and over next few months he’ll have a good understanding of whether he is capable of doing that or not.

“But if the hip is fine and he has a desire to play he has already proven he is an NRL player.”

—Fatima Kdouh

RABBITOHS LOCK IN RISING STARS FOR LIFE AFTER REYNOLDS

—Fatima Kdouh

South Sydney head coach in-waiting Jason Demetriou has laid the challenge to two of the club’s rising halves to step-up and claim the halfback “mantle” vacated by Adam Reynolds.

Halfback Lachlan Ilias and five eighth Blake Taaffe were two of the five rising Rabbitohs promoted into Demetriou’s top 30 roster for season 2022 as the side prepares for life after Reynolds.

“What we have done is promote them into our top squad to give them that opportunity to be that No. 7 for our club. Time will tell who takes that mantle,” Demetriou said.

Lachlan Ilias in action for South Sydney. Picture: Bryden Sharp

“They are options as we look to season 2022, but there is a whole season to get through yet. In the pre-season, it is up to this guys to work hard to put themselves in the frame.”

An astute organiser with a sharp kicking game, Ilias is being groomed as a potential replacement for Reynolds, who after 10 seasons with the Rabbitohs is switching to the Brisbane Broncos on a three-year deal.

“You don’t just straight up replace Adam Reynolds, that’s not what we are trying to do.

We’ve got options with young players in the ranks, but we also have some very experienced players in our spine with Damien Cook, Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell.

Ilias, 21, and Taaffe, 22, helped to steer the Rabbitohs SG Ball team to premiership victory in 2019 and are viewed as long-term halves prospects at the club. Both have signed on until the end of season 2023.

“Lachlan is an organising seven with an excellent kicking game and he can be a running threat. But Blake is more of a running six or fullback and he’s got electric speed. They complement each other really well,” Demetriou said.

The Redfern club also secured rising Redskins rake Peter Mamouzelos, 20, who is likened to Blues hooker Damien Cook for his speed out of the ruck and craftiness, until the end of 2024.

Blake Taaffe in action for South Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello/NRL Photos

“He’s a natural nine, that’s where he has played his whole life … his ability to create space around the middle third of the field is exciting to watch. He’s starting to develop physically and will play in NSW Cup this week,” Demetriou said.

Mamouzelos was also part of the SG Ball spine that helped the Rabbitohs to victory in 2019.

Two of the game’s most exciting teen prospects, Davvy Moale and Terrell Kalo Kalo, an explosive outside back, have also committed to South Sydney until the end of season 2023 on NRL contracts.

Standing at 186cm tall and weighing 112kg, Moale, 18, has been described as a “mini Payne Haas” by Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett.

“He’s a very big boy for 18. We earmarked Davvy a long time ago to move forward as a middle in our team. He was outstanding in SG Ball this year and the same when he stepped up to Jersey Flegg,” Demetriou said.

Boom centre Josiah Karapani has also been promoted to a development contract. The 18-year old centre was a standout in this year’s SG Ball competition.

TIGERS’ SHOCK BID TO SNARE DWZ

—Michael Carayannis

A rival Sydney club has made a play for Bulldogs fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak which could lead to the Kiwi international making a shock mid-season switch.

It is understood the Wests Tigers are considering signing Watene-Zelezniak to a long-term deal which could happen immediately.

Bulldogs boss Aaron Warbuton confirmed that the Tigers had flagged an interest.

“There has been an inquiry by the Tigers with regard to Dallin and that’s all that’s taken place,” Warbuton said.

If the Tigers secure Watene-Zelezniak it would be an interesting landing spot for the 25-year-old who almost signed with the club midway through 2019. The Tigers were ultimately unable to clear the funds to land him when he left the Panthers.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been linked with a move to Wests Tigers. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Instead Watene-Zelezniak inked an 18-month deal with the Bulldogs before adding two years to his deal at the end of that season.

Now he has another a chance to link with New Zealand Test coach Michael Maguire at the Tigers.

Watene-Zelezniak has one more season remaining on his Bulldogs deal which is worth about $800,000 next season.

He has been arguably Canterbury’s best player this year despite the Bulldogs’ struggles. He played against the Panthers on Saturday but the Bulldogs have the bye this week which could fast-track his move to the Tigers.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak could line up for Wests Tigers as soon as this weekend. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

If he signs before Tuesday he could find himself lining up against the Panthers in successive matches with the Tigers taking on Penrith on Friday night.

He has played 143 top grade games plus 12 Tests for the Kiwis.

The Tigers are building their outside back depth nicely. At the weekend they added England centre Oliver Gildart for next season.

The Tigers have options to extend the contracts of James Roberts and Joey Leilua, although it is unlikely that Leilua will remain at the club.

Despite the Bulldogs acknowledging the Tigers’ interest, Watene-Zelezniak took to Instagram to reaffirm his commitment to Canterbury.

“I’m signed until 2022,” Watene-Zelezniak wrote. “We may not be winning games but I love it at the Bulldogs and the challenge that is ahead of us. The tougher the journey the better the outcome.”