Leeds Rhinos’ Aidan Sezer speaks on missing Grand Final as he praises atmosphere in English game

Though Leeds came up short in the Grand Final just under two weeks ago, their season isn’t over just yet.

The Rhinos have a chance to end the year on a high in a unique clash against New Zealand on Saturday acting as the warm-up game for the Kiwis going into the World Cup and a farewell to Leeds’ departing stars such as Tom Briscoe, Liam Sutcliffe, Brad Dwyer, Muizz Mustapha, Bodene Thompson and Adam Cuthbertson who returns to the club after two years away to make the final appearance of his career.

This makes for the perfect occasion to finish the 2022 season and Leeds scrum-half Aidan Sezer certainly thinks so telling the Rhinos YouTube channel that it should be a special game.

“For sure I’m glad to get out there,” Sezer said, “It should be a special occasion on Saturday sending a few boys who have given a good service to the club off.

“Obviously against a World Class team and one of the favourites for the World Cup, so it’s exciting for the boys.

“It’s unique, it’s something I’ve never been a part of and I think I speak on behalf of most of the boys that we have a service to do to the guys we are seeing off who have given great service to the club over a long period of time.”

Sezer of course missed out on the Grand Final with concussion despite the fact he passed his HIA test as he suffered from category 1 symptoms which meant he could not play in the decider.

His loss was keenly felt as Leeds struggled to turn possession into points and Sezer had his first say on being ruled out of the final: “Would have been nice to play and get the win but to cap the season off against the Kiwis at Headingley. Hopefully there’s a lot of fans there and they can enjoy the night.”

No doubt hurting a lot more than he let on with those comments, for Sezer playing at Headingley could be the perfect tonic as he talked up the atmosphere New Zealand will experience on Saturday: “I think the crowds and atmospheres in England are second to none and there’s no better way to experience that than at Headingley.”