NRL 2024: Jack Gosiewski to join Brisbane Broncos, Billy Walters signs new deal, AJ Brimson sets sights on fullback spot
AJ Brimson’s brilliance at fullback helped the Titans to their first win in round eight, leaving Des Hasler with the tough selection call for the No. 1 jersey once Jayden Campbell returns. Have your say.
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Gold Coast dynamo AJ Brimson insists he had no thoughts about walking out on the Titans and has set his sights on keeping his beloved No. 1 jersey.
Brimson has made a sensational return to fullback in the past fortnight and played a key role in the Titans snapping their six-game losing streak in an Anzac Day thriller against the Warriors.
Brimson started the season at centre after new coach Des Hasler made the decision to shift the incumbent Maroons No. 1 from his favourite position at the back.
A glut of fullbacks at Parkwood prompted the move for the versatile Brimson to allow Jayden Campbell and young gun Keano Kini into the team.
After five straight losses to the start the season, and injuries to Campbell and Kini, Hasler shifted Brimson to fullback in a 34-30 round 7 loss to Manly.
Brimson then exploded with a two-try haul in Auckland, leading the Titans to a drought-breaking victory with one of the finest performances of his 106-game NRL career.
In the pre-season, Brimson admitted he “wasn’t stoked” about being moved to centre but insists he had no desire to leave his cherished Gold Coast.
“I don’t think centre was going to be a five-year plan for me,” he said.
“I want to stay at the Gold Coast so it was more about me being optimistic.
“If I was centre and we were 7-0 I’d be stoked. It was about seeing how the season panned out and it’s panned out this way.
“We’ll see what happens in the future, but I wasn’t looking to leave.”
If Brimson keeps up this type of form, Hasler will have a hard time shifting him when Campbell (knee) is available in a month’s time.
Brimson said he was intent on staying in his most dangerous position.
“I always thought I belonged in the spine or was at least good enough to be there,” he said.
“I couldn’t wait to be around the footy, so when I got my chance I was so eager to do stuff. Taking that mindset and confidence in has helped me.
“I honestly have no idea (what will happen). I’ll leave that up to Des. I’d like to at least stay in the spine, somewhere around the footy, but where that is up to Dessie.
“If I deserve to be there then I’ll be there. I’ll keep knuckling down for the next month.”
While spirits are high after a famous win against the Warriors, the Titans have another tough clash against in-form Melbourne at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.
Key players Keenan Palasia (quad) and Phil Sami (ankle) are due back from injury, but Maroons prop Moeaki Fotuaika will miss the game due to concussion protocols.
The Titans have allowed their opponents to bounce out to early leads of late and Brimson said they had to turn that around against the dangerous Storm.
“We’ve spoken about it. The last three weeks they’ve gone out straight away,” he said.
“We’ve got to nip that in the bud. We don’t want to do that against the Storm.
“The last month we’ve been thereabouts. It’s important to start putting wins on the board.
“There’s a bit of belief in the group but we’ve had the confidence for a month.”
BRONCOS SIGN GOSIEWSKI
– Peter Badel, Brent Read
Jack Gosiewski is on his way to the Broncos as Brisbane move to bolster their forward stocks in their bid to snap an 18-year premiership drought this season.
Brisbane’s derby rivals the Cowboys officially released Gosiewski on Sunday night on compassionate grounds – clearing the path for the back-rower to shift from Townsville to Red Hill.
The Broncos will formalise a deal in the coming days with Gosiewski likely to be available for selection for Brisbane’s round 9 clash against the Roosters this Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
It’s unlikely, however, Gosiewski will break into Brisbane’s top 17 immediately following the sizzling return from injury of back-rower Brendan Piakura, who starred in Saturday night’s 34-10 rout of Wests Tigers.
The Broncos have had Gosiewski on their radar for some time, with the Murwillumbah product requesting a release last month to be closer to his sick mother.
The Cowboys initially knocked back the transfer request and had paid the 29-year-old until May 1, but the Broncos are set to take over Gosiewski’s contract from that time.
The Broncos lost grand-final forwards Kurt Capewell, Tom Flegler and Keenan Palasia to NRL rivals in the off-season and were seeking some back-row depth to cover for emerging second-rowers Piakura and Jordan Riki.
Now some back-up has arrived in the form of Gosiewski, who brings almost a decade of NRL experience as a hardworking back-rower who defends solidly and has played 68 first-grade games.
Gosiewski made his NRL debut for South Sydney in 2016 before having stints at Manly (2018-21), the Dragons (2022) and North Queensland (2023-24).
Gosiewski, who turns 30 on May 29, played five games for the Cowboys this season and will be a back-row or interchange option in the event of injuries to Riki or Piakura.
The addition of Gosiewski means the Broncos now have 29 players on their full-time roster, leaving a vacancy for potentially one more recruit ahead of the NRL’s June 30 transfer deadline.
The Cowboys confirmed they have severed ties with Gosiewski, who played 12 NRL games for the club.
“We’d would like to thank Jack for his contributions to our club over the last 18 months,” Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck said.
“Jack’s experience and work ethic have made him a positive influence on our talented group of young edge forwards.
“We wish Jack and his family the best of luck in the future.”
The Broncos have battled an injury crisis over the past month but welcomed back key quartet Piakura, Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas and Deine Mariner for last week’s disposal of the Tigers.
Centre Selwyn Cobbo (shoulder) and five-eighth Ezra Mam (finger) missed the Tigers clash and are racing the clock to be fit for this week’s Roosters grudge match at Suncorp
NEW DEAL FOR WALTERS
– Peter Badel
The Broncos have continued their retention drive with grand-final hooker Billy Walters pledging his future to Brisbane ahead of Friday night’s blockbuster against the Roosters.
Brisbane have secured star halves Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds to new deals in the past six weeks and now unheralded rake Walters is the next member of Brisbane’s playmaking spine to extend his tenure at the club.
The Broncos have rubber-stamped a two-year extension for Walters, who will remain at Red Hill until the end of 2026.
Just turned 30, Walters was off-contract at season’s end but the Broncos have moved swiftly to secure the reliable No. 9, who has played a key role in Brisbane’s revival as a title force.
The ultra-consistent hooker joins a host of teammates to commit to the club, including Mam, Reynolds, Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan, Jordan Riki, Kobe Hetherington, Jesse Arthars, Tristan Sailor and Deine Mariner.
“I’m super stoked to stay – I didn’t want to go anywhere else,” Walters said.
“The club was happy to keep me so it’s a good result.
“I love playing here, the Broncos are the greatest club in the NRL and I’m just really grateful that they wanted to keep me around and I’m really happy to stay here for another two years.“
The son of Broncos coach Kevin Walters, his career was at the crossroads at the Tigers in 2021 when he snapped his ACL and required a knee reconstruction which saw him play just 10 games for the joint-venture club.
Thrown a lifeline by the Broncos, Walters has been a revelation since his move to Red Hill, amassing 57 games for Brisbane and cementing the No. 9 jumper in the club’s charge to last year’s grand final against Penrith.
Walters underlined his status as one of the most improved hookers in the club with a superb kick-and-regather solo try in Brisbane’s 34-10 rout of the Raiders a fortnight ago.
Brisbane’s playmaking spine is settled for at least another 18 months, with skipper Reynolds locked in for the 2025 season, Mam on board until 2029 and superstar fullback Reece Walsh close to signing a five-year extension.
Coach Walters said the Broncos rake has become one of the most improved players in the competition and added a creative touch to his work around the rucks.
“We as a club are proud of the way Billy has improved his footy since joining the Broncos – he has fought hard to get every bit of his NRL career,” he said.
“Some players get everything at their feet but Billy has had some injuries and some disappointment but he has stuck at it and worked really hard.
“Now he’s playing some good football for us and continuing to improve every week.“
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