AJ pledges his allegiance
Gold Coast dynamo AJ Brimson says 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 when new coach Des Hasler shifted 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 for the 34-30 loss to Manly in round 7.
Brimson then produced one of the finest performances of his 106-game NRL career to score two tries in Auckland as the Titans broke their win drought.
In the pre-season, Brimson “wasn’t stoked” about being moved to centre but doesn’t want to leave the 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 would 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 maintains his form, Hasler will have a hard time shifting him when Campbell (knee) is available in a month’s time.
Brimson (pictured) 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 would 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 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 and Brimson said they had to turn that around against the dangerous Storm. “We’ve spoken about it,” he said. “The last three weeks they have gone out straight away. “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.”