Phil Clarke says Leeds star was “the best player in the league” but has been “terrible” in recent times

Last night Leeds Rhinos kick started their season with a win over the Champions St Helens.

Blake Austin was the match winner with the drop goal but it was his halfback partner Aidan Sezer who picked up the Man of the Match.

This came after Phil Clarke had said he was previously the best player in Super League but had been terrible in recent years.

He said:

“For me the man who has to change the season, is Aidan Sezer. Three years ago in 2020 he wasnt just the best scrum half in Super League, he was the best player and every other club would agree with that.

“Since the 2021 season, his performances have massively dipped. He has been terrible.”

After the game he and Paul Sculthorpe praised Sezer: “There was some drama, controversy, it had everything but don’t dismiss the character of the Leeds side to hang in there when things went against them before some incidents turned it their way.

“They both stepped up. The more they are in the game, the better Leeds are. The more energy they created the more we see of Aidan Sezer.”

Speaking to Sky Sports, Sezer said after the game: “We showed the character in the group. We needed a result and we got what we needed it.

“It will give us confidence, it was shot after two losses. We know the quality in the squad when we play to our potential and we did that tonight, it was a tough task and it was good to get the two points at the end of it.

“It has been alright, myself and as a team, we haven’t been fluent.

“As long as we keep training and working, we will get better.

“I stripped it back to the basics today. I have been under par the last two weeks, I didn’t really run the ball last week at all. My main goal was to run the ball and get involved and I did that and I have a big split on the back of my head that shows.

“Happy to get the two points for our fans who travelled all this way.”