"I've come here, and I've just tried to be myself," Aidan Sezer replied when asked why he thinks he got the Hull FC captaincy for 2025. One of a plethora of new signings at the club, the half-back will lead the Black and Whites out this coming season, having been chosen by both his teammates and the coaching staff to skipper the side.

Cutting a relaxed figure, Sezer has settled strongly into his new surroundings and already feels at home. Signing a two-year deal at the club, he is a vocal presence at training and a key organiser of the side.

For the 33-year-old, it's now about putting that experience into practice in a leadership role, with the Australian star embracing the responsibility on his shoulders.

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"I've just tried to do my best each day at training and tried to compete in everything," he continued. "I guess that's why I've been given the responsibility, but also being a half-back and an older player of the squad also helps. It's such an integral part of the team, and I guess with my experience, I can help the guys around me.

"The club has an abundance of leaders this year, and a few of the players could have gotten the responsibility as well, but to be given it is a huge honour for myself. This is a club where great captains have come before me, and in terms of getting the responsibility for the year, it comes with huge expectations, but it's something I'm looking forward to."

Outlining what type of captain he wants to be, Sezer is a firm believer in leading by his actions. Of course, communication is key, but the half-back, who has Super League experience already after spells at Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos, is determined to ensure he's doing his role to the best of his ability.

"I always think a leader needs to lead with their actions first and foremost," Sezer explained. "I guess in professional sport, if you're part of a leadership group, then your performances need to be correlating with that responsibility, so for me it's about performing and bringing my best attributes to training and into gameday.

"If you do that, then your words hold some substance. I'm looking forward to that and putting the colours on this year with the captaincy alongside my name. Again, it is an extra responsibility, but as I say, I'm really motivated and really excited to be at the club."

Reunited with Cartwright, the half-back is truly in his element, being coached by his fellow countryman, one he has plenty of respect for after debuting under Hull's new boss while at NRL outfit Gold Coast Titans back in 2011. And while Sezer is fully aware of the club's struggles in recent years, he's determined to set the record straight.

"It's been awesome," he said. "Very early on in the piece, when I spoke to Carty about joining the club, he's always been really honest and really transparent. I was always happy to come and join him, and I understand the challenges of being at the club and where the club has been, but it's something that I'm really motivated by.

"I'm really excited; I think I can speak for all the boys within the group; we know where the club has been, but especially for the experience blokes coming in, we've recruited really well, and we've got a lot of winners and a lot of competitors. Hopefully, we can find that strike and results and get the club back to where it belongs."

Looking to do just that, Hull are into week nine of pre-season training, with a four-week block still to go before the first team's trial game at Castleford Tigers on February 1. It's a process Sezer is relishing, with the half keen to keep on forming combinations and the like in what is a new-look squad for 2025.

He added: "You're always looking forward to when gametime rolls around, but for me now, I've been in six or seven weeks, and I've really enjoyed being around the boys. I'm forming some combinations and connections with each and every player.

"It's such a long year, and this is the time in the year where you can work on things like that. Once the games come round, it's very tough to improve in certain aspects, but I'm enjoying the process.

"We just need to make sure we're laying those bricks in order to have a successful year. I feel like we're doing that. There's still a few more weeks to go before we play, but I'm looking forward to the games rolling around, playing in front of our fans, and giving them something to cheer about."

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