28 Nov 2019

The Chalkboard: All Hail Sezer

A look into the tactical implications of the signing of Aidan Sezer from our resident tactical expert

By Sean Evans

‘Super League only sign NRL’s superstars at the eclipse of their career’ or so we’re told.

The glittering lights of the NRL shine too brightly for its northern hemisphere friends to compete with, you only have to look at the evidence…

But in this department, Super League have stepped up its game this season, and our signing of Aidan Sezer just underlines the competition’s intent and the rise in quality we are likely to see in 2020.

Sezer was one of the key figures in Canberra’s rise back to the top - that ended in a controversial Grand Final lost to Sydney Roosters - and at the back end of the 2019 season, he was in the best form of his career.

His game management, controlled kicking and organisation will bring a fresh look to the Giants side that we struggled to hit consistently last season. That on top of his extremely accurate goal kicking, could be the game changer in key moments of the season.

Aiden Sezer and Nick Cotric displayed some silky football skills to set up a try for Jordan Rapana. #NRL pic.twitter.com/T6JTbzqO7a
— FOX LEAGUE (@FOXNRL) June 12, 2019

At the Giants we set up all the right structures to be a top side in Super League, but last season one score games cost us up to 12 points come the end of the season, more than any other club, and it was in crucial moments that inexperience cost the side, but the big game experience of Sezer will be essential in the forward movement, especially from broken play and pressure situations.

His kicking game both short and long, as well as from the tee, will be an addition that 12 months sooner could’ve seen a very different 2019 but will almost certainly help us see a completely rejuvenated side in 2020. Individual moments might seem irrelevant at the start of the season but Sezer is someone who can produce pieces of skill like 40/20s, and off the cusp attacking kicks, on a regular basis and it will affect the close games.

The 40/20 from Aidan Sezer 👌

The offload from Dave Taylor 👏#NRLRaidersDragons #NRL pic.twitter.com/SzMlmJfzPw
— NRL (@NRL) July 14, 2017

For the first time ever, I don’t want to go into detail about structures because Sezer offers more than that, he’ll fit right into any structure and make it his own.

What I want to continue to reiterate is the small margins a quality player can put you on the right side of, and to finialse that point let’s rewind to Castleford away.

Since joining the Giants I've felt there was something special happening, and I rewind to my first on the job, a night away at Castleford in the pouring rain. A golden point loss ended an optimistic night, or at least that’s how I saw it. As injuries piled up the season became more difficult to control, but a successful Huddersfield drop-goal that night would’ve made the outlook of the season completely different and who knows what could’ve happened.

Our new Emperor has his fair share of drop goal experience, leading the NRL in 2019 with four Field Goals (only equalled by Catalans new signing, James Maloney).

On that cold night in Castleford, there were at least 4 chances per side to get the game won, and it’s hard to believe that Sezer wouldn’t have made the difference.

It’s hard to analyse ‘big game moments’ until we see our new half in a ‘big game moment’ but I can only see his influence going one way in 2020.