Sticky situation: Recalled Sezer keen to keep tight grip on jersey

For those wanting to know, things are just fine between Raiders halfback Aidan Sezer and coach Ricky Stuart.

Considering Sezer, who re-signed with Canberra in June last year, has spent the majority of 2019 playing in the Canterbury Cup while Sam Williams had the No.7 jersey in the NRL, you could be forgiven for thinking there might be rumblings in the ranks.

Last Friday night's dominant 28-0 over the Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium was just Sezer's fourth NRL match this season.

If he had played the other nine, it would have been his 150th.

But the 27-year-old was a solid relationship with Stuart, even though Sezer was benched a couple of times early in 2018 as he struggled to do what the coach wanted.

"Me and Sticky are good mates. We talk a lot," Sezer told NRL.com.

"Look, Sammy has been playing good footy and that's all it was. He was playing so well that I just had to wait for my opportunity.

"And that's fair enough as Sam is very experienced half, who's been around a long time.

"I know how football works. It's a results-driven business, so when the boys were getting the results, the team stayed the same.

"Your position is not promised just because you sign a contract. You've got to work for it. I got my opportunity now so hopefully I can be part of this 17 week-in, week-out."

Sezer played rounds one and two but then sat out until round 12, when he and Williams were the Green Machine halves combination in the 12-10 win over the Bulldogs, with No.6 Jack Wighton on NSW Origin duty.

So Stuart had a choice against the Tigers with Wighton's return – and he chose Sezer as he wanted a bigger body defending on the right edge.

But with only limited time in first grade, Sezer said his teammates helped sweep away any nerves.

"Playing off these bunch of boys doesn't make me nervous. I was aware that me coming in meant Sammy sitting out the week, but the boys helped me," he said.

"I just kept things simple and played to my strengths. There were a few little errors.

"I do feel a little rusty at NRL because I've only played a few games this year, but it's awesome to be back.

"I was envious watching the boys on the sideline when they were stringing those wins together at the start of the year," Sezer said referring to the Raiders' five wins from the opening six rounds.

"It was pretty tough to watch – not being a part of it – but it feels good to be back and contributing to a win."

Sezer certainly did that with a line-break assist, an intercept, two tackle breaks and scoring a try himself. But it was his kicking game, with some towering bombs and five grubbers in his 13 on the night, that rattled the Tigers.

The 73rd-minute intercept try, including an 80-metre run to score, was personally satisfying.

"The boys were teasing me saying I'm not the quickest halfback going around, and these legs are getting older. But I looked up at the big screen straight in front of me and I saw no-one was chasing. So I didn't have to bring out the speed," he said, with a laugh.

Sezer is likely to retain the No.7 jersey for Thursday night's crucial clash with another in-form team, the resurgent Cronulla Sharks, at GIO Stadium.