They’re the maroon coloured Titans that stand to make their Queensland Origin debuts in 2020, but their path to the state team is year’s in the making.
AJ Brimson and Phillip Sami are both in-line to play against New South Wales in the 2021 series, but this won’t be their first time representing Queensland.
Head back to 2017 and the Titans pair were selected in the Queensland Under 20’s side*.
Brimson played at five-eighth and Sami on the wing, while the pair were also joined by new Queensland squad members Pat Carrigan (Broncos) and Harry Grant (Tigers/Storm) in the side that was beaten 30 points to 16 by New South Wales.
A year later, and Brimson was back in the #6 for the Queensland Under 20’s team. Again, he was joined by Grant and Carrigan, with incoming Titan Tino Fa’asuamaleaui joining the trio**.
The 2018 team notched a 30 points to 12 win over New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium.
A year later and Fa’asuamaleaui was again flying the flag in the under 20’s side, while his fellow Titans had graduated to the next phase of the Queensland Origin setup***.
Phillip Sami and AJ Brimson were both part of Queensland’s emerging origin setup in 2019, pathing the way for their selection in the top side a year later.
Come 2020, and Brimson and Sami have gone the right through the Origin progression, being named in the Queensland Maroons squad. They’re joined by Titans Moeaki Fotuaika and the departing Jai Arrow, with Fa’asuamaleaui expected to also be named in the squad once the Melbourne Storm’s NRL campaign is over.
The journey in maroon started long ago, but the dream of playing for Queensland could be realised when the first game of the 2021 series kicks off at the Adelaide Oval on November 4.
Titans also selected in Queensland under 20’s squads:
*Keegan Hipgrave was the lock in the 2017 side
**Beau Fermor played second row in the 2018 side
***Treymain Spry was the winger and Tanah Boyd on the bench in the 2019 side
