NRL 2021: Star fullback AJ Brimson signs new five-year deal to stay with Gold Coast Titans
They may be struggling at present but in AJ Brimson, Gold Coast have a potential superstar and they have been quick to ensure he doesn’t hit the transfer market any time soon.
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Gold Coast sensation AJ Brimson has outlined his ambition to deliver the club’s maiden premiership after inking a mega five-year, $3 million contract with the Titans.
With a proposed second Brisbane team on the horizon for 2023, the Titans have moved swiftly to avert any threat of a poaching raid, securing the flying fullback until the end of the 2026 season.
It is a significant boost for the Titans, who are building a promising roster following the acquisition of Queensland Origin young guns Dvaid Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui last season.
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Now Brimson is determined to be part of the Gold Coast’s quest for a maiden premiership, with the local junior inking a long-term upgrade in his plan to become a Titan for life.
The 22-year-old was already contracted until the end of next season but has agreed to a further four years as he looks to spearhead the Titans’ climb out of the premiership cellar to become a finals force.
Brimson made his Queensland Origin debut last season and is on track to become a Titans superstar as he revealed his motivation to break the club’s premiership duck.
“I’m really pleased to have my future sorted,” he said.
“I love this club and it has always been my main priority to stay here.
“The club wanted to keep me here long-term and I am stoked they had that faith in me, I didn’t hesitate in signing here.
“I’m a Gold Coast boy so I was never interested in going anywhere else. I have been involved with this club since I was 16 and I have been through the wooden spoon years, so I want to be part of some success going forward.
“It would be a dream to win a premiership for this club. No words could describe what it would mean for me to help the Titans win a comp. The club has never won a premiership and for me that would be a lifelong ambition to make us a force in the NRL.”
Brimson made his NRL debut for the Titans in 2018 and has played 55 games across the past four seasons.
After his shock State of Origin debut for Queensland last November, the Keebra Park product has not just established himself as a fan favourite but as one of the most explosive attacking fullbacks in the NRL.
“I think it reaffirms the stability in our club from one of the most exciting players in the NRL,” Titans coach Justin Holbrook said.
“He is a local product who loves the Titans and wants to be successful here, so he sees a good vision moving forward.
“It’s so important for us to have AJ locked in long term because he is so important to what we are building here.
“I think it is great for everyone, I think he is one of the best young players in the NRL and he is only going to get better over the next few years.
“To have a player of his calibre excited to be here, it’s great from a coaching point of view and it is great for everyone involved in the club that he has locked in his future with us.”
Brimson’s manager Jim Banaghan said the classy custodian had no interest in a bidding war.
“AJ gave me firm instructions he wanted to stay at the club,” he said.
“He never wanted to entertain any other and the club intimated through Mal Meninga (culture boss) they wished to keep AJ.
“He was never concerned with money, he is looking forward to other players coming to the club and making the Titans a premiership success.”
Brimson: Kalyn and I make a great one-two punch
By Travis Meyn and Chris Honnery
Titans jet AJ Brimson wants to win back the Queensland No. 1 jersey but says he could form a deadly combination with Kalyn Ponga if the Knights dynamo is fit for the Origin series-opener.
Brimson has set his sights on being picked by new Maroons coach Paul Green for Origin I in Melbourne on June 9.
The Gold Coast fullback made his Origin debut in last year’s first game in Adelaide but suffered a serious foot injury which ruled him out of the remainder of Queensland’s epic series win.
Brimson scored a try on debut and proved he was up to handling the Origin arena after Ponga was ruled out with a shoulder problem.
Ponga was expected to be Queensland’s Origin I fullback this year, but he missed this weekend’s Magic Round with a groin injury and is racing the clock to prove his fitness for the MCG showdown.
That has opened the door for the likes of Brimson and in-form Cowboys No. 1 Valentine Holmes to press their claims for the Maroons fullback duties.
Brimson, 22, will start at fullback for the Titans in Sunday night’s clash against the unbeaten Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium and said he wanted to be in the No. 1 debate.
“I obviously want to be doing my best and put my hand up for that position,” he said.
“If it’s not to be, I’d be stoked to play off the bench. I’ve played hooker, centres, halves, fullback. I feel like I could play that 14 role if the opportunity comes.
“If I don’t get picked it’s not the end of the world.
“I’d love to play with Ponga, I think we could link up well together.
“We have a good healthy rivalry. We are good mates.
“It’s good to have that fun on the field. We are competitive but we can have a laugh as well.
“It’s impossible to not think about it (Origin) at all but my focus is on the Titans.”
Brimson finished the 2020 NRL season with a run of remarkable form that earned him a Maroons debut.
After missing the first half of the season with a back injury, he scored seven tries in nine games as the Titans went within a whisker of the finals.
But he had to undergo surgery on a serious foot injury after his Origin debut which cruelled his 2021 pre-season.
He has also been battling a groin problem this year which has impacted his greatest asset – speed.
“It was a short pre-season and I’ve had a groin injury the last month,” he said.
“It’s nothing too bad but it’s limited me throughout the week. It’s slowly getting better.
“It’s not ideal in-season. It’s physically demanding. For the first few days after a game I’m focused on recovering and then I have to prepare for the next game.
“It’s the same for every player in the comp. Everyone has those struggles.
“(My foot) feels fine. I remember reading that (Lisfranc injuries can linger) when I first did it and I felt nervous. But I don’t even think about it at all now. I’ve moved on from that.”
If Brimson is picked for Queensland, he won’t be fazed by the occasion of facing the Blues at the MCG.
“I found it pretty good to be honest,” he said of his debut.
“I didn’t feel rattled or out of place.
“At the stoppages you’d look around and realise you’re in Origin with the maroon and blue jerseys and the players. But when the actual game was flowing it just felt like another game.
“I haven’t spoken to Greeny at all yet. The last month we’ve had a few bad losses so my main focus is to play finals footy.”
MAROONS HOLD BREATH OVER STAR TRIO
Maroons coach Paul Green remains hopeful star Queenslanders Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Kalyn Ponga will be fit for Origin 1 after the trio were ruled out of the Magic Round weekend with injury.
Less than a month out from the Origin series opener, the Maroons have been hit by a number of key injuries as well as a two-week suspension for barnstorming backrower David Fifita.
Ponga was on Thursday ruled out for at least a fortnight after suffering a groin injury during the week, while Munster (foot) and Grant (hamstring) have also been sidelined in the lead up to the June 9 Origin 1 clash.
However, the setback hasn’t caused too much alarm for the new Queensland coach who admitted his plans remained flexible to cope with any unexpected problems.
“You don’t want to be too fixed,” Green said when asked if he had settled on his starting 17.
“We’ve still got a little bit of footy to be played.
“Already this week Ponga, Harry Grant and Cameron Munster are out so you don’t want to be too set because things can change pretty quickly.
“I’m reasonably happy with where we’re at.
“Hopefully those guys can recover, which I’m sure they will.”
Green said he wasn’t aware of the extent of each player’s injury but was planning to keep a close eye on their progress over the coming weeks.
“I’m not inside the clubs so I don’t know too much about their injuries, other than they won’t be playing for the next week or so,” he said.
“By all reports, they should be OK.
“As I said, you can’t get too fixed too early because you’re plans can go out the window.
“We’ll just keep an eye on the next couple of weeks.”
Queensland are bracing for some tough competition this year with the likes of James Tedesco, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Tom Trbojevic in the frame for Blues selection.
However, Green said the experience of last year’s heroics would put the Maroons in good stead.
“The fact that so many guys did debut last year probably means there will be less guys to debut this year,” he said.
“That’s the benefit of last year – those guys got some experience and a taste of what Origin is all about.”
The Queensland mentor was on deck to showcase the TAB Greenhouse at Doomben Racecourse this week, which will be unveiled at this weekend’s TAB Doomben 10,000.
“It looks like a great spot for the punters,” he said.
“The Winter Carnival is such a great event and it starts with the Doomben 10,000 this weekend.”
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Originally published as NRL 2021: Star fullback AJ Brimson signs new five-year deal to stay with Gold Coast Titans
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