Aidan Sezer

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Aidan Sezer
Personal information
Full nameAidan Yüçel Sezer[1]
Born (1991-06-24) 24 June 1991 (age 32)
Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight14 st 2 lb (90 kg)
Playing information
PositionHalfback, Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2012–15 Gold Coast Titans 71 12 156 5 365
2016–19 Canberra Raiders 84 14 23 5 107
2020–21 Huddersfield Giants 25 9 63 2 164
2022–23 Leeds Rhinos 37 3 4 0 20
2024– Wests Tigers 2 0 2 0 4
Total 219 38 248 12 660
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–17 Indigenous All Stars 2 0 1 0 2
2016 NSW City 1 0 6 0 12
2021 Combined Nations All Stars 1 0 5 0 10
Source: [2]
As of 23 March 2024

Aidan Yüçel Sezer (born 24 June 1991) is an Australian[3][4] professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback and five-eighth for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League.

He previously played for the Gold Coast Titans, Canberra Raiders in the NRL and the Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. Sezer has played for the Indigenous All Stars and New South Wales City sides.

Background[edit]

Sezer was born in Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia to a Turkish father, Yüçel, and an Indigenous Australian mother.[5]

Sezer played his junior football for the East Hills Bulldogs before being signed by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Sezer played in the Bulldogs Toyota Cup team in 2010–2011, scoring over 300 points.[6] On 31 August 2010, Sezer was named at five-eighth in the 2010 NYC Team of the Year.[7] At the end of 2011, Sezer signed with the Gold Coast Titans after a lack of first-grade opportunities at the Bulldogs.[8]

Playing career[edit]

2012[edit]

In round 7 of the 2012 NRL season, Sezer made his NRL debut for the Gold Coast Titans against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at five-eighth and scored a try in the Titans 26–14 upset win at Brookvale Oval.[9][10] In December 2012, Sezer re-signed with the Gold Coast on a two-year contract.[11] Sezer finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 18 matches, scoring four tries, kicking seven goals and kicking one field goal for the Gold Coast Titans in the 2012 NRL season. On 4 December 2012, Sezer re-signed with the Gold Coast for three years until the end of the 2015 NRL season.[11]

2013[edit]

On 9 February 2013, Sezer played for the Indigenous All Stars team in the 2013 All Stars match against the NRL All Stars off the interchange bench in the Indigenous Team 32–6 win at Suncorp Stadium.[12][13] Sezer finished the 2013 NRL season with him playing in 22 matches, scoring one try, kicking 75 goals and kicking two field goals for the Gold Coast Titans.

2014[edit]

In round 10 against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Sezer suffered a pectoral muscle injury in the Gold Coast's 22–8 loss which made him miss three months of football,[14] until making a return in Round 22 against the Sydney Roosters at SFS which the Gold Coast lost the match 26–18.[15] Sezer finished the Gold Coast Titans 2014 NRL season with him playing in 13 matches, scoring four matches, kicking 23 goals and kicking one field goal in an injury riddled year.

2015[edit]

On 20 January, Sezer was named in the Gold Coast 2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[16] On 10 April, he signed a three-year contract with the Canberra Raiders starting in 2016.[17] He finished his last year with the Gold Coast, having played in 18 matches, scoring three tries, kicking 51 goals and one field goal.

2016[edit]

In round 1 of the 2016 NRL season, Sezer made his club debut for the Canberra Raiders against the Penrith Panthers, playing at halfback and scoring two tries in the club's 30–22 win at Canberra Stadium.[18] On 8 May 2016, Sezer played for City Origin against Country Origin, where he played at five-eighth and kicked 6 goals in the 44–30 win in Tamworth.[19] Sezer finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 24 matches, scoring 5 tries and kicking 5 goals in his first year with the Canberra club.

2017[edit]

In February 2017, Sezer was selected in Canberra's 2017 Auckland Nines squad.[20] On 10 February 2017, Sezer played for the Indigenous All Stars against the World All Stars in the 2017 All Stars match, playing off the interchange bench in the 34–8 win at Hunter Stadium.[21][22] In round 5 against the Parramatta Eels, Sezer played his 100th NRL career match in the 30–18 win at Canberra Stadium.[23][24] Sezer finished the 2017 NRL season with him playing in all of the Raiders 24 matches, scoring 4 tries and kicking 12 goals. Sezer and his halves partner Blake Austin were subjected to criticism at the end of the season for not lifting their game to close out matches and were taking the back seat for hooker Josh Hodgson who did the key playmaking a little too often than they should have.[25]

2018[edit]

On 27 June 2018, Sezer extended his contract with the Canberra club to the end of the 2020 NRL season.[26] Sezer finished the 2018 NRL season with him playing in 18 matches, scoring 2 tries, kicking 8 goals and 1 field goal for the Raiders. In October 2018, Sezer alongside Raiders team-mate Emre Guler trained with the Turkey national rugby league team for the 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship matches.[27]

2019[edit]

Sezer started the 2019 NRL season as the club's first choice halfback and kicked a field goal in the opening round as Canberra defeated the Gold Coast 21–0. In round 2, Sezer suffered an oblique injury and was replaced by Sam Williams. Due to the good form of Canberra and Williams, Sezer was kept in reserve grade to play for Canberra's feeder club side the Mount Pritchard Mounties after recovering from his injury.[28]

In round 23, Sezer played his 150th NRL game in Canberra's 14–18 loss to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at GIO stadium in Canberra. In round 24, Sezer kicked 3 field goals in Canberra's 15–14 win against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Pointsbet Stadium, including the game winner in golden point extra time.[29]

Sezer played for Canberra in the 2019 NRL Grand Final which was their first decider in 25 years. Canberra would go on to lose the final 14–8 against the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium.[30][31][32]

On 28 November, it was announced that Sezer had signed a two-year deal to join Super League side Huddersfield.[33]

2020[edit]

Sezer made 16 appearances for Huddersfield in the 2020 Super League season as the club missed out on the finals.[34]

2021[edit]

In round 5 of the 2021 Super League season, Sezer scored two tries and kicked two goals as Huddersfield defeated Leeds 14–13 to claim their first win of the year.[35]

On 25 June 2021 he played for the Combined Nations All Stars in their 26–24 victory over England, staged at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, as part of England's 2021 Rugby League World Cup preparation.

On 19 July, it was announced that Sezer would leave Huddersfield at the end of 2021 to take up a two-year deal with eight time Super League Champions Leeds.[36]

2022[edit]

In round 1 of the 2022 Super League season, Sezer made his club debut for Leeds in their 22–20 loss against Warrington.[37] Sezer missed the clubs 2022 Super League Grand Final loss against St Helens R.F.C. due to failing concussion protocols.[38]

2023[edit]

On 21 August, Sezer signed a one-year deal to join the Wests Tigers ahead of the 2024 NRL season.[39] Sezer played a total of 19 games for Leeds in the 2023 Super League season as the club finished 8th on the table and missed the playoffs.[40]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Aidan Yucel Sezer". Companies House.
  2. ^ "Aidan Sezer - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. 24 June 1991. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. ^ Walter, Brad (6 October 2018). "Turkey hoping Sezer can provide World Championship boost". National Rugby League (NRL).
  4. ^ Bazeley, Marc (1 February 2020). "Super League 2020: Huddersfield Giants' Aidan Sezer stays in touch with Turkish roots". Sky Sports.
  5. ^ Meyn, Travis (17 January 2013). "Aidan Sezer has shone for the Titans, now he is set to become a Star". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Titans trio head west in name of Indigenous education". Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Toyota Cup Team of the Year revealed". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Gold Coast Titans slam Todd Carney rumours | NRL". Zero Tackle. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Sezer makes NRL debut | Queensland Times". Qt.com.au. 11 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Titans Five Eighth Aidan Sezer Signs New Deal Until 2015". Herald Sun. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  12. ^ "2013 All Stars teams announced". NRL.com. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  13. ^ Burke, Dominic (9 February 2013). "REPLAY: Indigenous All Stars 32 d NRL All Stars 6 at Suncorp Stadium". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  14. ^ "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  16. ^ "TITANS NAME 2015 NINES SQUAD". Rugby League Week. 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  17. ^ Chris Wilson (9 April 2015). "Canberra Raiders sign Aidan Sezer". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  18. ^ "Canberra Raiders Down Penrith Panthers but Lose Star Blake Austin to Injury". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  19. ^ "Young City side stun Country". NRL.com. 8 May 2016. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  20. ^ "2017 Downer NRL Auckland Nines squads - NRL". 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Indigenous All Stars thump World All Stars 34-8 in Newcastle | Daily Telegraph". Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Canberra Raiders halfback Aidan Sezer uses NRL All Stars to learn from North Queensland Cowboys' Johnathan Thurston". 27 February 2017. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  23. ^ "Aidan Sezer wants to take control of the Canberra Raiders ahead of his 100th NRL game". 27 March 2017. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  24. ^ "Cotric stunner seals Raiders victory - NRL". April 2017. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  25. ^ "No Hodgson but Raiders are still title contenders". 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  26. ^ "Canberra Raiders re-sign Aidan Sezer". 27 June 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  27. ^ "Turkey hoping Aidan Sezer can provide finals boost at Emerging Nations World Championship - NRL". 5 October 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  28. ^ "Sezer willing to wait in the wings". nrl.com. May 2019. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  29. ^ "Canberra Raiders ruin Paul Gallen's Cronulla farewell, Tigers beat Dragons to stay in finals hunt". ABC News. September 2019. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  30. ^ "NRL grand final player ratings: Roosters and Raiders hits and misses". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 October 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  31. ^ "Sydney Roosters beat Canberra Raiders to win NRL Grand Final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  32. ^ "How Ricky Stuart reacted to grand final 'six-again' refereeing shocker". WWOS. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  33. ^ "Huddersfield Giants sign NRL star on two-year deal". Examiner Live. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  34. ^ "Huddersfield Giants season review". www.superleague.co.uk.
  35. ^ "Huddersfield Giants head coach feeling good after first Super League win of 2021". www.skysports.com.
  36. ^ "Aidan Sezer: Leeds Rhinos sign Huddersfield Giants half-back for 2022 Super League season". Sky Sports. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  37. ^ "LEEDS RHINOS 20 WARRINGTON WOLVES 22". www.therhinos.co.uk. 12 February 2022.
  38. ^ "Leeds Rhinos' Aidan Sezer speaks on missing Grand Final as he praises atmosphere in English game". www.seriousaboutrl.com.
  39. ^ "Sezer returns to NRL with Wests Tigers". www.weststigers.com.au.
  40. ^ "Leeds Rhinos' 2023 season review: picking out the best and worst players, performances, results". www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk.

External links[edit]