A combination of form, injury and coming off contract is giving the Canberra Raiders half a problem.
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Raiders halfback Sam Williams' form has again kept Aidan Sezer in the reserves ahead of their clash against the Penrith Panthers at Wagga Wagga on Saturday.
Sezer has been named on the extended bench as 18th man.
He played halfback in the Mounties' emphatic win in the NSW Cup at Brookvale Oval on Sunday - his second appearance for the Raiders' reserves this year.
There was a rumour Sezer was unhappy biding his time behind Williams and wanted out, but it appears unfounded with the 27-year-old committed to fighting for a spot in the team.
Williams is off contract at the end of the season and yet to begin talks about extending his time with the Green Machine, while Sezer is contracted until the end of 2020.
Jack Wighton's stunning form in his switch from fullback to five-eighth, combined with the arrival of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to fill the No.1 jersey, has meant Williams and Sezer were fighting over the one spot.
Sezer's untimely chest injury forced him out for a couple of weeks and Williams has seized his chance.
He's led the team to four wins in five games in Sezer's absence, but more importantly his defence has stood up so far this season.
It's Williams' third stint at the Raiders, having played 42 NRL games 2011-13, then another 24 in '15-16 before returning for his current spell since 2018.
He's always found himself as the back-up halfback in Canberra, but his early season form has seen him seize the reins.
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Whether he's the leading man will play a role in the 28-year-old's next contract.
There will be interest from the Super League, where he's played for Catalans and Wakefield in the past.
The waters are further muddied by the potential arrival of England and Wigan five-eighth George Williams.
The 24-year-old would be joining the host of Englishmen in Canberra - the Raiders already have Josh Hodgson, Elliott Whitehead, John Bateman and Ryan Sutton on their books.
It's believed he's agreed to terms with the Raiders, but the Canberra club was yet to agree on a transfer fee with Wigan.
How exactly the Englishman would fit into the Green Machine squad is another factor.
He's widely regarded as a running five-eighth, but Williams has played halfback for both England and Wigan.
Would his arrival signal the return of the Wighton to fullback?
That's where he's played 85 of his 137 NRL games to date.
Not only has Wighton been a revelation in the No.6 jersey so far this season, but Nicoll-Klokstad has made the custodian role his own since coming across the Ditch from the New Zealand Warriors.
It's not like Nicoll-Klokstad could simply switch to the wing where the Raiders are also blessed for talent and depth.
Jordan Rapana's a New Zealand international, Nick Cotric is in the mix to make his State of Origin debut for the NSW Blues this year, Bailey Simonsson, who comes into the side to play the Panthers due to Rapana's rib problem, showed he has the makings of a top-class winger in his NRL debut and Michael Oldfield's also on the books.
The Raiders also have five-eighth Ata Hingano in the squad, with the young New Zealander playing for Mounties.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said the coming weeks would determine which way he goes.
"It's round eight. I'm not even thinking about that and the attitude I always take is it will work itself out," he said on Wednesday.
"It's the last thing on my mind at the moment in regards to next year. I'm worried about this year."
NRL ROUND EIGHT
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers at McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga, 3pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Bailey Simonsson, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Hudson Young, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Corey Horsburgh. Reserves: 18. Aidan Sezer, 19. Michael Oldfield, 20. Emre Guler, 21. Jack Murchie.
Panthers squad: 1. Caleb Aekins, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 4. Waqa Blake, 5. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 6. James Maloney (c), 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Tim Grant, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Isaah Yeo, 13. James Fisher-Harris. Interchange: 14. Sione Katoa, 15. Liam Martin, 16. Moses Leota, 17. Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Reserves: 18. Jarome Luai, 19. Kaide Ellis, 20. Dylan Edwards, 21. Tyrell Fuimaono.