One of the main reasons the Canberra Raiders advanced to the NRL grand final may not be a presence at the club next year.
Aidan Sezer is in the final stages of contract negotiation with English Super League side Huddersfield.
The halfback, who spent time playing for Canberra’s feeder club, Mount Pritchard, earlier this season, was a guiding light for the fairy tale Raiders who almost took it all the way.
“People have expectations and Canberra have signed me for a reason. It’s one of those things in sport," Ricky Stuart said of Sezer.
Sezer is contracted to the Raiders for the 2020 NRL season.
Stuart has said club chief executive Don Furner have both said that Sezer will be granted an early release should the deal finalise, however, officials from both clubs have been tight-lipped on the subject.
With Sezer likely departing, a void is opened at halfback for the raiders, a void Englishman George Williams is keen to fill.
“I look forward to that pressure as long as I deal with it well,” Williams said.
“I try to enjoy (pressure). I have played in some pretty big games in Super League — four grand finals, Challenge Cups, World Club Challenges, Test matches.
“People have expectations and Canberra have signed me for a reason. It’s one of those things in sport.”