Mark two of the Aidan Sezer-Blake Austin halves combination started with a bang on Boxing Day in front of a typically vociferous Leeds Rhinos crowd at Headingley Stadium.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The former Raiders duo have both joined the Rhinos for next year's Super League in England, and picked up where they left off at the end of 2018, when Austin left Canberra, securing a dominant 34-6 win over local rivals Wakefield in the Yorkshire clubs' annual preseason fixture.
Sezer endeared himself to the Rhinos faithful almost instantly, scoring an early try to begin his two-year stint at Leeds in perfect fashion.
He started alongside Austin reigniting the halves pairing which served the Raiders for three years.
And the pair are set for an early season test in February when the season proper kicks off, against Austin's old club Warrington which is now anchored by short-time Raider George Williams.
"We've got a few more friendlies to come so hopefully we're in good shape come round one and we're all on the same page and we can perform well," Sezer told the Leeds Rhinos after the win over Wakefield.
"This time of year, clubs are still trying to find their best 17.
"For me and the other new boys it's just getting familiar with the other boys and the way they play."
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
Sezer's last game for the Raiders was the 2019 NRL grand final loss to the Sydney Roosters.
He was replaced by international Englishman Williams who helped the Raiders to a preliminary final in his first year, before his sudden departure back to England midway through 2021.
Soon after Warrington signed Williams, it was announced Austin would be on his way out of the club. The ex-Raider was entirely left out of the Wolves' shock 19-0 playoff defeat to Hull KR in September which ended their season.
He's slotted straight in at the Rhinos, and will likely share general kicking duties with Sezer much like the pair did while at the Raiders.
"We did it well today, [there's] always room for improvement and hopefully we can keep working on that leading into round one," Sezer said.
"We're working on a lot of combinations, it's always tough to replicate those conditions at training so it's good to get out here for the new boys like myself.
"We had a strong crowd here at Headingley, it's what you hear about before you come here and I think today lived up to the bill."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
