Titans Head Coach Justin Holbrook says he is excited by the prospect of coaching AJ Brimson as the Gold Coast young gun continues his ascension on the list of the NRL’s top fullbacks.
Local junior Brimson is equally excited by the trajectory of the Titans under Holbrook’s tutelage after re-committing to the Club on Monday, with a contract extension that will keep him in sea, sand and sky until at least the end of the 2022 season.
While only 21 years old and with just 36 NRL games under his belt, Brimson confirmed his spot as one of the game’s hottest prospects in 2019 with selection in the Australian Nines squad, and his selection in the Australian Under-23 team that played against France.
While Brimson has spent time at fullback and in the halves in the past two seasons, Holbrook confirmed he is looking at the Keebra Park product as the Club’s long-term No.1, and hailed his contract extension which he said was an exciting signing for the Club.
“Absolutely, and a really important one,” he said. “We know how great a young player AJ is.
“He is a local junior, only 21 years old and he’s already played 36 games and he is a great excitement machine – not just for our Club but for the NRL.
“For him to be with us for a few more years is very exciting.
“The great thing about AJ is that he can play a number of positions, which is a great quality in any young player.
“But predominantly, we will look at him at fullback. But as I said, he is capable of playing in the halves, and he even played a bit of No.9 when he represented Australian in the Nines tournament.
”I am really excited to have a great local player, and I look forward to coaching him over the next few years.”
Holbrook said having Brimson, and the recently re-signed Moeaki Fotuaika and Phil Sami, leading the charge for the “home-grown” talent was an exciting prospect for him as a coach over the next few seasons.
“(AJ) has already played 36 first grade games and he is only 21,” he said. “The improvement in his game is going to be massive. It is exciting for me to be a part of that, and great for our Club.
“Those other guys are only young as well, which is important.
“I can see it in the training. I have had four weeks with AJ now and I can just see how much he loves rugby league, and wants to be the best he can be at it.
“They are the sort of players that we want here.”
