Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and Hull FC are all in the market for a halfback or two in 2024 and that is especially true of Leeds with the future of Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin becoming increasingly clearer especially since Austin signed for Castleford Tigers for the rest of the season.
The two both joined ahead of last year and have had struggles with injury and at times been excellent and at others struggled to capture the top form they showed when they arrived in Super League with Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants respectively.
In fact both men were Man of Steel nominees in their first ever Super League seasons in 2019 and 2020.
Though Austin is expected to remain in the UK, Sezer is set to join the Wests Tigers as has been reportedly frequently.
Reports down under from the Sydney Morning Herald are linking the 32-year-old with Wests Tigers, who look set for the wooden spoon this year and are in the process of a rebuild.
It’s reported that the club see Sezer as part of that rebuild, as a ‘stop gap’ in the halves before they can recruit a younger talent.
This is certainly an interesting deal for Sezer to take on as it would mean accepting that he is not the club’s main man.
Thus he should be commended for his selflessness.
The Sydney Morning Herald report that Wests have signed St George Illawarra Dragons young playmaker Jayden Sullivan who has joined on a four year deal.
At just 21 the Tigers are believed to be wanting to pair him with a more experienced player which is where Sezer comes in, the Leeds Rhinos man set to be the calm head and mentor in the half back pairing.
The Daily Telegraph however are reporting that Sezer has been tied down by Wests on a one year deal with an option for a second.
This is still clearly a short term solution but the Telegraph claim that it it’s a done deal which would suggest an announcement from Wests at some point soon, one that will leave Leeds looking for two brand new halves in 2023