The weight of Canberra Raiders headquarters has fallen on Aidan Sezer's shoulders and that's just the way he likes it, adamant he is the man to steer the club out of the abyss.
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Hooker Josh Hodgson is gone, halfback Sam Williams is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines, Blake Austin has been dropped to reserve grade and fullback Jack Wighton's immediate playing future hinges on the outcome of an ACT Policing investigation.
Sezer is the last man standing from Canberra's full-strength spine and he responded by orchestrating a stunning turnaround in fortunes for the Raiders against the Canterbury Bulldogs in round five.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart dubbed it Sezer's best game in a lime green jersey and now the 26-year-old wants to pick up where he left off against the Parramatta Eels at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
Off-contract Sezer will line up against Parramatta star Corey Norman, and it is believed the Raiders made inquiries about signing the rival five-eighth but the Eels are not prepared to release him.
It adds more incentive for Sezer to play a starring role in the absence of a host of high-profile stars.
"They’re very dominant players and for me I guess I had to [lead the way when they were gone], and I’m comfortable with that," Sezer said.
"I’m comfortable with running the ship, we just need to find a way to gel all together. [The Bulldogs game] was a step in the right direction for myself and hopefully I can carry on with it.
"I’m more of an organising half and a kicking half, [so shifting to five-eighth] doesn’t really change my role at all. I’ve worn the six all my life growing up but I’m happy wearing the seven as well, it doesn’t change anything."
Williams is set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines with medial ligament damage but Sezer says the Raiders are in good hands with a former Dally M five-eighth of the year waiting in the wings.
Sezer has backed Austin to "come back all guns blazing" and overcome the disappointment of being dropped to reserve grade should he be recalled for a clash with the struggling Eels.
Austin was a last-minute withdrawal from the Mounties side to play the Penrith Panthers in the NSW Cup at Aubrey Keech Reserve on Saturday, however fellow Raiders discard Josh Papalii fronted up.
Williams' untimely injury is a golden opportunity for the off-contract Austin to prove his worth after the 27-year-old reportedly knocked back a two-year $1.4 million offer last season, which has been taken off the table.
Speculation has swirled around the future of Sezer and Austin with the Raiders duo reportedly looking for new homes, but Sezer says he is committed to proving Canberra's doubters wrong.
"We know what’s in this group, we know what's in this club. The people within the building know what we’re about," Sezer said.
"We’ve had a few critics over the past month and they’re not going to go away, it has only been one win. But I think this was just an example of what we do have. We’ve got a lot of boys sitting on the sideline, a lot of quality footballers.
"It’s a throwaway line but we do have a good squad down here. The boys stick together and you really see it, not in the good times but in the bad times.
"The boys are sticking together, we still go out for a beer together. That’s a testament to how solid we are. It’s easy to be solid when you’re winning and things are all rosy, but the tough times are when you find out who are your mates and who is not.
"We’ve got a solid team down here and you can see it in the way we enjoy a win."
NRL ROUND SIX
Saturday - Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels at Canberra Stadium, 7.30pm.
