DSJ1983: Judging players on opposing fans opinion is even less reliable. Before he pulled on a shirt there was a narrative that Sezer was terrible at Leeds. Even after Saturday I saw people on SM saying how come Sezer was so poor for Leeds etc? Out of interest to see if he really was that bad I looked on YouTube, funnily enough there’s a load of clips of him creating try’s from clever kicks and cut out passes exactly like he’s done for us but in a Leeds shirt, maybe they just didn’t appreciate him.
I'll admit I was distinctly underwhelmed/unsure when Sezer was announced as a signing. I didn't really see his performances last year for Wests, so couldn't comment on those, but throughout his four years in SL with Hudds/Leeds I always had the impression he flattered to deceive too often, not quite living up to the reputation he arrived with. Like you say, sometimes a narrative forms around a player and it sticks like glue no matter what, and maybe this was colouring my impression of him, particularly at Leeds where, as another poster points out, their somewhat off the cuff style under Rohan Smith didn't suit Sezer.
It's still very early days yet, only five games in, but all the indications are that this could be right player at the right club at the right time. Sometimes certain players fit like a glove into a club and their circumstances and so far this would seem to be the case here with Sezer and us. He seems to be revelling in the responsibility of being captain, leader and midfield general, looking every inch the player his reputation states he is.
He also appears to have almost instantly formed a considerably fearsome partnership with Asiata. They look as if they have been playing together in the same side for the past ten years. They both seem to have an understanding of each other's roles and are feeding off each other giving us that midfield direction that we have been missing for a number of years. This in turn is then providing the foundation upon which the rest of the side are thriving, young and older players taking their lead from this midfield base.
In his post match interview, Cartwright spoke about the half-time discussion being 'player led' and I'll bet it was the Sezer-Asiata axis who did a fair amount of the talking, Sezer certainly gave that impression in his post-match interview. We've barely got started yet in 2025 and it may still all go horribly wrong as the year unfolds (this is Fc after all!!) but Sezer, Asiata, Hardaker, Briscoe all seem very committed to putting this club back on an even keel and sending us forward at long last. As said, with Sezer in particular, maybe this is right player, right club, right time, let's hope so, more games like the last two is going to put a bounce in everyone's steps as we roll along.
