Roosters pair Jake Friend and Lindsay Collins have been added to Queensland’s squad while AJ Brimson is preparing to fill Kalyn Ponga’s boots at fullback.
He doesn’t claim to ooze the cool of Kalyn Ponga but AJ Brimson has returned from injury armed with the speed and strength to replace the NRL superstar at fullback for Queensland next month.
Gold Coast talent Brimson missed the first 11 rounds of the NRL season when a back niggle progressed to a full fracture.
But the season’s delay allowed the 22-year-old to return noticeably stronger and faster, racking up seven tries, 13 line breaks and 30 tackle breaks in nine games to force his way into the Origin mix.
He was joined in the squad by Sydney Roosters pair and fellow Origin debutants in waiting Jake Friend and Lindsay Collins, the duo added on Wednesday by coach Wayne Bennett after their side’s NRL finals exit.
While Friend and Collins add further depth to the hooking and forward stocks, there is a shortage of backline options with incumbent Ponga (shoulder) among a host of big names to miss the November series.
It leaves Brimson in the box seat for a debut in Bennett’s return as coach.
Brimson was put through his paces by Bennett’s newly-appointed assistant Neil Henry and former Maroons coach-turned Brisbane mentor Kevin Walters in a Gold Coast training session with fellow squad members on Wednesday.
“Kalyn killed it on debut, but he’s a bit cooler than me,” Brimson said of the man he’s set to replace.
“I get very nervous. You wake up in the morning. Nerves. Then head to the field, get more nervous and in the sheds get extra nervous then again just before kick-off.
“I try to chill a bit more now and after the first tackle or run it’s sweet.
“But the last thing I’d want to do is let Queensland down; I love Queensland and I’d do everything I could to fulfil the jersey.”
Brimson said intense gym and sprint sessions analysing Usain Bolt’s technique with Titans physio Paul Scurfield had helped him return with a bang.
“He was pretty adamant about me gaining a bit of size and some speed … I trusted him and he said ‘I’ll get you back bigger, faster and fitter’,” he said.
“He was just flogging me in the gym.”
Brimson said it was surreal to pull on the Maroons training gear, particularly because his season was likely over without the long COVID-19 pause.
Queensland squad*: Jai Arrow, AJ Brimson, Moeaki Fotuaika, Phillip Sami (Gold Coast Titans), Edrick Lee, Hymel Hunt (Newcastle Knights), Valentine Holmes, Coen Hess (North Queensland Cowboys), Xavier Coates, Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos), Ben Hunt, Josh Kerr (St George Illawarra Dragons), Harry Grant (Wests Tigers/Melbourne Storm), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles), Jake Friend, Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters). *Additional players will be added following NRL finals matches.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Gagai and Su’A certainties; Allan and Paulo likely if they keep playing as have been. Lowe unfortunately injured, Mago great potential but not this year.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
If Jaxson Paulo keeps playing like he did against Parra (2 tries, that intercept and that iconic 50m run off from the Moses "post') then Bennett will back him for Origin. No one is like Bennett with the young players, he is the undisputed master of backing youthful talent, you only need to look at the "baby' Broncos (pre-Seibold era) and the Rabbitohs this year (Cory Allan, Campbell Graham, the Rabbitohs young forwards et al).
Nat
Roar Rookie
Apparently the players union rule is players 'must' have 2 weeks break after the season. Not really sure how this works as SOO1 isn't 14 days away from the GF.
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
He'll jump ship and come back to the promised land after they drop him for Walker!
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
Yeah that was the month i was talking about, origin month (plus the time in between)! Although Xavier Coates got to go on a beach holiday so maybe it's not so bad for those north of the border
Nat
Roar Rookie
What chance Justin Olam?
Nat
Roar Rookie
It is too early Paulo. Yoou'd have Mulitalo before him everyday IMO.
Nat
Roar Rookie
and Keary is coming from Ipswich, Sydney? :stoked:
Nat
Roar Rookie
Gagai, Su'A, Allan, Paulo. There's others like Lowe and Mago but I doubt ol coach is looking that way.
Nat
Roar Rookie
He has to bubble the whole time though. He's either in straight away or not at all.
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
Normally it'd be way too early for anyone to think about claiming him. 1995 only had one Ben Ikin, this origin's gonna have 3 or 4!
Greg
Roar Pro
Without Smith I think there's on 11 Qlders left. Munster, Welch, Tino, Kaufusi Lee Papalii, Lui Gagai, Sua, Allan Capewell Only other person I can think of potentially is Jaxson Paulo but not sure if he had opted for Qld or NZ.
Tony
Roar Guru
Redfern......that's iin Queensland!
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
Perhaps, but I'm struggling to find 11 guys in the 4 teams (9 guys in 2 teams really). Wayne's in charge so I guess anyone eligible in Souths will get a spot, including Allan and probably Jaxson Paulo
Tony
Roar Guru
They've already picked 3 dummy halves so I can't see Smith being selected.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
I think if he's retiring he plays Origin. Final game at Suncorp game 3
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
So with Mahoney not making the cut, and 11 still to pick from 4 teams, there's a chance Smith could be there. I'd say that depends on how the Storm go though. If they get bundled out by Souths, he won't take too well to being asked to hang out in a bubble for another month.