NRL 2021: Fullback AJ Brimson says Titans couldn’t ask for better game to find form than against Broncos
There’s nothing like a spicy Queensland derby to get the juices flowing as the Titans look to get their season back on track and get one over the ‘Big Brother’ Broncos.
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Origin star AJ Brimson has declared the Titans will bounce back from their round one flop and Gold Coast players have a point to prove against the “Big Brother” Broncos.
Brimson will face-off against the team he idolised as a child when the Titans host Brisbane in Friday night’s derby at Cbus Super Stadium.
The Titans fullback grew up a mad Broncos fan, once leading the team out for a game at Suncorp Stadium, and watched his older brother, Will, be signed to Brisbane’s under-20s system.
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The Broncos did not make a play for the younger Brimson, who caught the eye of Titans scouts on the Gold Coast after coming through the Keebra Park High School system that produced Benji Marshall, Payne Haas and David Fifita.
The first derby of the season promises to be a spicy affair after both teams lost last weekend and Brimson said the Titans would come out firing.
“I used to like the Broncos, yes, I was born in Brisbane and was a Broncos-Queensland fan,” Brimson said.
“Will was in the under-20s system there and I got picked up by the Titans. We had different pathways.
“I’m obviously a diehard, through and through Titan now. I always love these battles. I respect the Broncos as a club and look forward to these local derbies.
“There is always that little bit in the back of your head because it’s that ‘big brother, little brother’ club and they’re up the highway.
“They feel the same way, too. We always have our little battles.
“It’s a little bit more special, especially for the fans, they always get behind it. It will be a good atmosphere.
“It’s obviously a big game every year, we’re definitely going to be up for it and I’m sure they will be too.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a pretty physical game.”
The Titans enjoyed a pre-season of hype and optimism after finishing 2020 ninth on a five-game winning streak and securing star signings in Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Melbourne) and Fifita (Brisbane).
But they were mediocre in a Round 1 loss to the Warriors, making too many errors and defending poorly to drop a game they should have won.
The Titans had the wood over the Broncos last year, winning both derbies as Brisbane went on to collect the club’s first wooden spoon.
Brimson, 22, denied the Titans crumbled under expectation last weekend and was adamant they would rise for the Broncos.
“We definitely didn’t go in there ahead of ourselves,” he said.
“We knew it was going to be a hard challenge and we spoke about that sort of stuff.
“It was round one frantics (sic) and unfortunately we had a bad game and underperformed. We didn’t play the way we trained all pre-season and that was frustrating.
“But I don’t think that was due to us thinking we were better than we are.
“It was similar to last year, the way we started the year. We’re a lot further than we were at this time last year but it was a similar narrative.
“We’ve got to start well. We’ve already addressed that and are looking forward now.
“We owe it to the fans and we’re grateful they will be supporting us here in numbers.
“Our plan is definitely to not let them down. We spoke about that as a club, that’s what we want to be a part of – making the Gold Coast community proud. We’re definitely going to be putting on a good performance for the fans.
“You can’t not get up for this game. We will show that on Friday night.”
Haas or Tino? Brutal Broncos snub spurs Titans star
Titans weapon Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is itching to rip into the Broncos following revelations Brisbane overlooked him in favour of Origin nemesis Payne Haas.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Queensland Origin star Fa’asuamaleaui quit the Broncos after the club opted to invest heavily in NSW rival Haas.
Fa’asuamaleaui grew up near Gympie as a Broncos supporter and signed with Brisbane’s development squad on the Sunshine Coast as an 11-year-old.
But his pathway became blocked as a 16-year-old when the Broncos launched an all-out assault on Haas, poaching him from the Titans and later signing the Blues star to a record six-year contract.
Fa’asuamaleaui opted to head to Melbourne, launching his career at the Storm under super coach Craig Bellamy and becoming an NRL sensation in 2020.
He went on to win last year’s NRL premiership and made his Origin debut, famously fighting Haas during a heated Game Two before joining Gold Coast in the off-season as one of the club’s star recruits.
Fa’asuamaleaui, 21, said he was excited to feature in his first south east Queensland derby when the Titans tackle Brisbane at Cbus Super Stadium on Friday night.
“Watching the Queensland derbies last year, they’re always fiery and the boys will be up for it,” he said.
“It will be very fiery and I can’t wait to get amongst it.
“The Broncos were my team growing up. I supported them.
“Since I was 11 or 12 I was in their development squads on the Sunshine Coast until I was 16 and I made my way down south.
“I thought it’d be a good opportunity to go down there and be under Craig and (Cameron Smith) and the older fellas down there.
“It was the best move I’ve made. I learnt a lot from them and am learning a lot here too.”
Haas and Fa’asuamaleaui had some brutal encounters in junior Origin games and their rivalry exploded on the big stage last year.
Currently serving a three-game suspension following an off-field incident, Haas will not feature for the Broncos on Friday night, robbing the derby of a mouth-watering encounter.
Fa’asuamaleaui’s manager, Simon Mammino, said the Broncos let “Big Tino” slip to Melbourne.
“Tino was at the club before Payne Haas, but the Broncos brought him to the club and then eventually signed him to a six-year deal,” he said.
“Tino wasn’t initially offered a top-squad contract by the Broncos until the Storm came into the picture. The Broncos thought Tino could play, but they only showed real interest after Melbourne came along.
“The Storm tabled a very good offer which reflected their commitment to him and as part of it Tino went straight into the full-time squad.
“The Broncos also brought Payne Haas in over the top and those two factors convinced Tino to leave Brisbane. The best pathway to the NRL in Tino’s eyes was leaving the Broncos to get an education under Craig Bellamy.
“The Broncos had big plans for Payne Haas and he has gone on to be a very good player.”
Fa’asuamaleaui had a mixed debut for the Titans in last Saturday’s loss to New Zealand.
He made 17 runs for 129m but had some defensive lapses as the Titans suffered a disappointing Round 1 defeat following a pre-season of hype.
“There’s a lot of things to work on and a lot of good things we can take out of that game,” he said.
“We need to improve our discipline and little areas in defence. We will come out better this week and hopefully get the win.
“We all shied away from what we’re good at and didn’t really use that on the weekend. We know what we need to do and will hopefully use it this week.
“We don’t see it as too much pressure, that’s what everyone else is saying. It’s good pressure and motivation for us to show everyone what we’re made of and can do.
“We’ve got to get this week right and hopefully get the win.”
Origin winger Phil Sami will replace centre Brian Kelly (broken hand) in the only change for the Titans, who trained at Cbus Super Stadium on Tuesday night to prepare for the night game conditions.
Originally published as NRL 2021: Fullback AJ Brimson says Titans couldn’t ask for better game to find form than against Broncos
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