His incredible two-try effort almost guided the Gold Coast Titans to victory over the undefeated Newcastle Knights last night but Titans five-eighth Aidan Sezer said it will be a team effort which will see the squad notch their first win of the 2015 season.
“We’re all a team and if we’re not winning I think we’re all accountable for that. Personal performance … I disregard that. We didn’t win and that’s all that matters, so we’ll go back to the video and I’m sure we’ll have a lot to work on for next week,” he said.
Sezer’s ability to take control and guide the side around the paddock during key moments in matches will be crucial to the remainder of the Titans season and last nights’ performance was a good step in that direction with the cool, calm and collected pivot scoring 14 of the Titans’ 18 points from two tries and three conversions.
His first try came in the 45th minute and sparked the Titans’ comeback efforts, putting the team within two points of the Knights before he supported well to bag his second in the 64th minute, after great lead-up from Daniel Mortimer and Ryan Simpkins, to edge his side clear going into the final minutes.
But the Knights managed to steal the win with a late try to come away with the 20-18 win and hand the Titans their second narrow defeat at home after succumbing to the Wests Tigers in round one, but Sezer says a full 80 minute performance isn’t far off.
“I think we put ourselves in positions to win games at home this year, the effort has been great but that’s NRL, we just need to keep playing for the 80 minutes and hopefully we’ll get the two points,: said Sezer, the 23-year-old five-eighth who was playing his 43rd first grade game.
“It’s shattering; all the work we put in over the pre-season and all the work we put in during the week [and then to lose]. It’s obviously disappointing not to get the win but we just have to keep working for the full 80 and it’ll turn around for us.
“There are plenty of positives but at the end of the day we need to turn that into wins.”
Sezer has dismissed claims suggesting there should be positional changes to the squad and said the teams’ spine including halves partner Daniel Mortimer and utility hooker Kierran Moseley will need to be at their best ahead of next week’s clash with the Cronulla Sharks at Remondis Stadium.
“I think it’s too early to start talking about spots. ‘Morts’ had a few kicks which weren’t up to his standards and I’m sure he’ll turn that around. He’s one of the hardest workers at the club so he will turn it around for next week.
“He [Moseley] has been exceptional. He brings that bit of X-factor to our game around the ruck and he is only going to get better with the more games he gets under his belt.
“We’ve got the Sharks next week and they’ll be hungry for a win down there, but so will we, so it will be a good match.”
Aidan Sezer spoke with former teammate and Titans staff member Luke O'Dwyer in the sheds after the match. Click play on the video below.
