Gold Coast Titan Aidan Sezer keen to sort future following Daly Cherry-Evans deal
PAUL MALONETODD BALYM THE COURIER-MAIL MARCH 08, 2015 11:00PM
OFF-contract Titan Aidan Sezer says he wants to decide his future as soon as he can as the Gold Coast address their list of options in the wake of their recruiting of Daly Cherry-Evans.
Sezer, the Titans five-eighth, said he welcomes the Titans’ success in signing Cherry-Evans for 2016, but he has to make the best decision for his future.
Sezer’s manager Sam Ayoub said “half a dozen’’ clubs had expressed interest in the 23-year-old.
Daniel Mortimer, halfback in the 19-18 loss to Wests Tigers on Saturday, says he is under contract for next year at the Gold Coast and there will be “a lot of competition for spots’’.
On Saturday night, Sezer was unable to get enough elevation on a 77th minute field-goal attempt when the game was deadlocked, but the 54-game playmaker created Gold Coast’s second try with a pass for tryscorer Ryan James.
“I want it to be sorted out as soon as it can and want to string a few good performances together this year,’’ Sezer said.
“It’s awesome for the club, a big coup to get someone of Daly’s calibre.
“It doesn’t affect my future. I have to concentrate on playing for the Titans and whichever way the ball falls, I’ll face it when it comes.
“I’ve been here four years and the colours have grown on me. We’re a work in progress, but I want this club to do well.’’
Titans chief executive Graham Annesley said the club had remaining salary cap room to recruit and retain effectively for 2016.
“We have quite a lot of players coming off contract at the end of the year, but it’s a decision for the coaching staff and recruitment staff to make those decisions,’’ Annesley said.
Ayoub said his preference would be to wait four or six weeks into the season before moving on Sezer’s future.
“That gives us a better gauge of what’s around because by that time Cherry-Evans, Kieran Foran and James Maloney might have decided where they are (for 2016),’’ Ayoub said.
“I spoke to (Titans recruitment) Jamie Mathiou half a dozen times and he’s expressed a desire to have Aidan and DCE as their long-term halves.
“Aidan plays a similar game to Foran.’’
Mortimer said the signing of Cherry-Evans was big for the Titans and vowed to fight for his NRL spot by making a statement this year.
“That’s a big step for this club especially after what they’ve been through,’’ Mortimer said.
“There will be a lot of competition for spots. I’ve played a lot of five-eighth. That is all next year. All I can focus on is this year and that’s the last thing I’m thinking of at the moment.’’
Annesley meanwhile is hoping to capitalise on the Cherry-Evans buzz by aggressively trying to sell their $1.5m sponsor vacancies on their jersey in the coming weeks.
Annesley’s refusal to under-value the club’s sponsorship properties as they struggled to replace three major sponsors for 2015 has been vindicated with the club set to reap greater rewards on the back of the DCE coup.
“I do think it will help us in the long run which supports our decision to hold firm on our strategy,” Annesley said.
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“Aidan plays a similar game to Foran.’’
In the interests of a DCE & ELGEY competition dominating halves pairing, I won't be too upset if Sezer packs his bag.
I think we're going to retain one of Sezer and Mortimer. I hope it's the later, for both his (lower) price and utility value (as a bench half/hooker i.e. his best position imo)