Brimson shapes as Titans' next NRL star

AJ Brimson has reaffirmed his star qualities with a two-try effort in the Gold Coasts' 42-34 win over Manly on Friday.

Gold Coast star AJ Brimson

Gold Coast youngster AJ Brimson (R) is shaping a future fullback for the Titans, his coach says. (AAP)

AJ Brimson is firming as the Gold Coast's long-term fullback after reinforcing his star potential in the Titans' 42-34 comeback win over Manly.

Brimson saved tries at one end of the field and scored them at the other as the Titans overturned a 14-point lead with six unanswered tries at Lottoland on Friday.

Brimson is likely to retain the No.1 position for the club's final two games of 2018 with coach Garth Brennan revealing veteran Michael Gordon wasn't expected to return from a wrist injury this year.

Brennan said he believed the 19-year-old's future lay at fullback, despite playing most of his junior career in the halves and coming into grade as a five-eighth.

Gordon has one final year left on his Titans contract and Penrith and NSW utility Tyrone Peachey is set to arrive on the Glitter Strip next year, giving Brennan a plethora of fullback options.

But after two impressive showings in the No.1 jersey over the last fortnight, Brennan marvelled at the Keebra Park State High product and envisioned keeping him at fullback.

"My plan was to have a good pre-season training him up at fullback, working with Flash (Gordon), getting him confident in defensive structures and numbering up in defence," Brennan said.

"You can see what he does with attack, there's no issue there.

"Fullback is such an art defensively, whether you put yourself in the line or drop yourself out of the line. He'll get better for that."

After scoring two tries and denying Brian Kelly with some gutsy defence, Brimson showed he has the makings of a genuine superstar.

It marks a meteroic rise for the Brisbane-born player who up until he was 16 couldn't attract interest from any club.

As a youngster, he was overlooked for junior representative teams and grew up right under the Brisbane Broncos' noses.

Now after 13 NRL games he looks headed for a big future.

"I've got a lot to work on, especially with my on-line defence and getting the numbers right," Brimson said.

"People don't really notice the little things that go on at the back there.

"But I'm really enjoying roaming around the field in attack.

"I couldn't say where my future is - I enjoy half and I enjoy fullback. It really just depends what Garth wants. I'm happy to play either."


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Source: AAP


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