NRL 2021: Gold Coast Titans to unleash speed demon AJ Brimson
AJ Brimson was the form player of 2020 and the Gold Coast Titans fullback won’t let a foot injury slow him down in 2021.
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Titans dynamo AJ Brimson insists he will be back even faster and more dangerous in 2021 after overcoming a serious foot injury that derailed his State of Origin debut.
Brimson will make his first appearance of the season in a trial game for Gold Coast against New Zealand in Lismore on Saturday night.
It will also be the first time star Gold Coast recruits David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui appear for their new club.
Brimson will pull on his favoured No. 1 jersey after making a full recovery from a Lisfranc foot injury suffered in Queensland’s Origin I win against the Blues in Adelaide last November.
The injury ruled Brimson out of the remainder of his debut Origin series and he underwent surgery to fix what is a potentially serious problem.
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Some players have missed up to a year of football following Lisfranc injuries, but Brimson’s recovery has so far been relatively fast and smooth.
The electric fullback relies heavily on his speed, footwork and evasive skills, as evidenced by his remarkable run of form in the back end of the 2020 season after recovering from a fractured back.
Brimson, 22, scored seven tries in nine games last season and said he wants to build on that form, not try to match it, after his injury.
“I’m feeling good, the foot has come along well, it has been feeling 100 per cent for the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“I wanted to get a trial in so hopefully I can have a good game leading into the season.
“I haven’t done any particular testing, but in terms of training I feel the exact same.
“It was a shorter pre-season so I need to double down on skills. But in terms of physical ability, I feel the same.
“I’m going to try and come back faster – I will be fine.”
Brimson scored a try in his Origin debut but missed the following two games as Queensland claimed one of the great upset series wins.
Maroons jerseys will be up for grabs again this year under new coach Paul Green and Brimson said he wanted to improve on his sensational 2020 performances.
“It was not ideal but we got the win and won the series, it could have been a lot worse,” he said.
“I want to play consistent footy and as many games as I can for the club.
“I will try to build off last year. Hopefully I can play like I did in 10 games last year for 24 games this year.”
Titans coach Justin Holbrook will field close to a full-strength team against the Warriors at Oakes Oval.
Broncos recruit Fifita will start in the back-row while Storm premiership star Fa’asuamaleaui has secured the No. 13 jersey ahead of utility Tyrone Peachey.
Jamal Fogarty and Kevin Proctor were announced as co-captains for the 2021 NRL season on Friday.
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Originally published as NRL 2021: Gold Coast Titans to unleash speed demon AJ Brimson
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