Jesse Arthars on following AJ Brimson’s path to the NRL at the Gold Coast Titans

GOLD Coast recruit Jesse Arthars has seen how to blaze onto the NRL scene – his old schoolmate AJ Brimson showed exactly how it’s done during the winter.Now it’s Arthars’ turn.

GOLD Coast recruit Jesse Arthars has seen how to blaze onto the NRL scene – his old schoolmate AJ Brimson showed exactly how it’s done during the winter.

Now it’s Arthars’ turn.

The former Keebra Park student has returned to the Coast on a one-year deal after stints in Melbourne and South Sydney’s systems.

Arthars has settled in nicely at the Titans, where there are a number of familiar faces in the ranks.

“Probably the main people I knew was AJ, Phil Sami, Jaxson Paulo; I knew Ryley Jacks as well coming up from Melbourne,” he said.

Jesse Arthars is back on the Gold Coast. Picture: Richard Gosling

“I have got a lot of mates in the team so that makes it easier at the start of the year, getting to know everyone.”

Brimson was one of the good news stories from a generally tough 2018 for the Parkwood club, graduating from their under-20 program to rapidly move through the Intrust Super Cup and become a central element of their NRL team at either fullback or five-eighth.

“It was pretty awesome to see him crack it last season,” Arthars said.

“He is a good mate of mine so I was pretty stoked for him. I will definitely be looking to do the same thing, just ripping into pre-season and putting my best foot forward going into Round 1.

AJ Brimson scores a try against Manly. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m realistic with it. I’ll start off at Burleigh or Tweed and then see what happens throughout the season.

“Hopefully I get an opportunity. I’ll be preparing as best I can.”

The 20-year-old outside back is wishing for a better start here than he experienced at the Rabbitohs last year.

“I injured my shoulder so I was out for most of the season. I did it in the first trial game for Souths’ feeder team, which was North Sydney Bears,” he said.

Jesse Arthars (middle) in a schoolboy game for Keebra Park against Palm Beach Currumbin in 2015. Picture: Regi Varghese

There’s been no chance to ease in during the first two weeks of this pre-season, though.

“It’s been pretty tough,” he said.

“We have had a few tough wrestle sessions and we had a session on the beach (on Wednesday) which was pretty intense.”

Arthars, who hails from Auckland, will have stiff competition for a top 17 jersey, with the likes of Brimson, Sami, Michael Gordon, Anthony Don, Dale Copley, Tyrone Peachey, Brian Kelly and Brenko Lee all vying for backline spots.