Super League star signs to be NRL ‘stop-gap’ per reports

Leeds Rhinos have lost one of their half-back pairing of Blake Austin and Aiden Sezer with Austin having linked up with Castleford Tigers last week on a loan till the end of the season, and now the future of Sezer is becoming clearer and clearer.

Both of the former Canberra Raiders were off contract at the end of this current season, something Austin had been vocal about as he tried to illicit another contract from the Headingley club, even going as far as to call out Chief Executive Officer Gary Hetherington in a post match interview when saying ‘get the cheque book out Gary’.

It’s been a lot quieter from Sezer though and whilst he still remains with the Rhinos for now, it looks like his future for 2024 and beyond is even clearer and certainly not with the Rhinos.

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.

The 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 with Austin seemingly unwelcome at the club and Sezer now destined for an NRL return.

The Rhinos are left short in the position with options including young Jack Sinfield.