Battle of the whizkids
Knights sensation and Titans tyro set to catch up on old times
GOLD Coast rookie Alexander “AJ” Brimson grew up watching Kalyn Ponga terrorise junior touch football rivals.
Preparing for his second NRL match, against Ponga’s Newcastle, Brimson said he had known the Knights fullback, 20, since they roomed together while playing for the Queensland under-15s touch football team.
“I’m mates with Ponga, I played touch footy with him,” he said.
“We played under-15s together. We roomed together in Darwin.
“It will be good going up against him. We played each other in under-20s last year. He is a good guy.
“He is very skilful. It was always a matter of when, not if, he came into first grade and did his thing.
“He is a freak and we’ve obviously identified his threat.
“We’ve got a massive focus on him but we can’t focus on just him.”
Brimson, 19, made a strong NRL debut in last Saturday’s tough loss to Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium.
The Titans have lost their past five matches but may have unearthed a promising new halves combination in Brimson and halfback Ash Taylor — another player with whom he shares a touch football past.
“I think we’re building,” Brimson said.
“We have a good combination where I just let him run the show and I just play off the back of him and just try and compliment him.
“I think we’ve fitted in pretty well together.”
While Brimson is a strong ballrunner and crafty playmaker, it was his defensive grit against the Storm which pleased coach Garth Brennan after Kane Elgey and Bryce Cartwright failed in the No.6.
Brimson’s chance to earn an extended stay at five-eighth comes after strong performances at the back of the field, with the rising star crediting a stint at fullback with Tweed for sparking his running game.
“Obviously at fullback you get your hands on the ball a bit more and it’s a bit more stressfree instead of controlling a team,” he said.
“So I went back to fullback just to simplify my game.”
NSW Origin hooker Nathan Peats and Queensland hopeful Jai Arrow will return from rib injuries against the Knights, although Kevin Proctor (groin) is in doubt.