Aidan Sezer had made no secret of the key catalyst to his Hull FC form this year, and it all stems from the trust placed in him by head coach John Cartwright.
Playing on both sides of the field, Sezer, along with half-back partner Cade Cust, has been given the freedom to roam around and play to Hull’s structures and shapes, whether on the left side or the right. It’s a system bringing the best out of the veteran half, who has brought the desired leadership to the club and is reaping the rewards.
Sezer’s performances are a huge reason why Hull are currently on track for a Super League play-off finish, with his efforts also recognised by the Man of Steel panel. The half currently sits in fourth spot, just behind Wigan star Jai Field and his Hull FC teammate Herman Ese’ese. Leeds maverick Jake Connor continues to lead the way.
For Cartwright, Sezer’s form has been down to many factors, but there’s no denying his current role and the leadership that comes with it are also a huge facet – especially with John Asiata currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Speaking to Hull Live, Cartwright said: “It (his form) has been a combination of a few things, but his leadership has certainly been a big part of that. Having Zak Hardaker around him, Jordan Rapana, and Cade Cust; it’s all little things that have come into play.
“A few results have gone our way, and generally when you’re winning games, your key playmakers earn the points for those types of rewards. Those things take care of themselves when you’re doing the job, so I’m sure Aidan and Herman would be the first to pat all their teammates on their back for creating a platform for them.”
On Sezer, Cartwright continued: “If you feel comfortable and you’re happy in your environment, that’s a major part in doing anything well: football, work, or whatever your profession is. He’s happy, and he’s enjoying his time here.
“He loved playing in the Super League before; he had four years here previously, and he really enjoyed the football here. He’s found a home. He’s probably never been in the key leadership role that he’s in now. He’s evolved into that position. He’s very forthright in how he thinks about his football. He’s a voice among the group, and the group have really enjoyed playing with him.”
Cartwright is expecting that leadership to have a greater effect as the team naturally evolves. He explained: “It goes hand in hand. If the team around him keeps improving, it makes his job a little bit clearer. He can maybe take a little bit of a backseat. It’s part of how the team evolves.”
As for Ese’ese, who sits second in the Man of Steel chart, Cartwright also praised the prop’s destructive ability, with the front rower leading the way in the competition for offloads. He’s also the only middle forward in the top 20 for metres made so far this season and has nine tries to his name in both league and cup.
“He’s a real handful,” Cartwright said. “We don’t have a lot of players like him that are really destructive with the ball. We have guys who do their jobs and play with consistency, whereas Herman is a player all teams need. If you want to be successful, you’ve got to have guys who break tackles and create something out of nothing, and he’s that for us.”