The emergence of Jayden Campbell will force AJ Brimson to shift to five-eighth in a new-look Gold Coast Titans side for the 2022 NRL season.
Jayden Campbell’s dazzling start to life as an NRL fullback will force Queensland Origin representative AJ Brimson to shift to five-eighth in the 2022 NRL season.
Campbell made an impressive start to life in Gold Coast Titans colours, benefiting from Brimson’s injury-enforced absence to make a mark in the NRL at the end of 2021.
With Jamal Fogarty joining Canberra, Ash Taylor linking with the Warriors and Tyrone Peachey heading to the Wests Tigers, spots are up for grabs in the spine as Gold Coast seek back-to-back finals finishes in 2022.
“The way Jayden Campbell is playing, I’m excited to play with him, it’s not one of those awkward things, I’m excited,” Brimson told Triple M.
“I think what is going to work best would be me back into the halves and JC to stay at fullback.
“I’ve played a lot of halves so it’s not anything really new to me and I’m not too nervous but it is a bit more tackling for me so I’ll have to get some wrestling sessions up in pre-season.”
With Campbell at fullback, Sexton is Brimson’s most likely partner with Erin Clark the man expected to make a permanent shift to hooker.
It’s one of the most inexperienced spines in the competition, with Brimson the veteran of the group at just 63 NRL games.
But with time on their side, the 23-year-old is confident the Titans can get it right to be a force in the top-eight once again.
“We know if we are going to do something in this comp then we are going to have a massive pre-season together,” he said.
“I think that is Justin’s (Holbrook) thought process behind it, telling us early where he wants us to play so after every session there is no confusion.”
Tony
Roar Guru
:thumbup:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
$165K is too rich for my blood, Tony. Even in pretend money. How about we use Monopoly money instead and I'll bet $1,000 and throw in Park Lane and Mayfair as well? :silly:
Tony
Roar Guru
3 Bitcoin?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
ROAR editors.... see (above) what happens to paragraph formatting when a comment is edited? Why is this happening?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I’ll cover that bet Tony. How much? Brimson and Sexton in the halves are a far better and more complementary combination than Fogarty and Taylor ever were. What are the Titans other options with Fogarty having been let go to sign with the Raiders and Taylor being punted unceremoniously out the back door of Cbus Super Stadium?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Personally, I think it is a good call. Jayden Campbell is an excellent young talent well worth investing in. It is in the best interests of both young Campbell and the Titans long-term. Would AJ Brimson be a better option at FB overall? Certainly. Will the Titans suffer too much because of this change? I don’t think so. Can Brimson handle the switch to 5/8? I can’t see why not. He has all the requisite skills and the speed and acceleration to test defensive lines. The bottom line is that if Jayden Campbell got sent back to playing in the lower grades he would get snapped up like Reece Walsh and Sam Walker who were overlooked by the Broncos for “safer” options. No doubt Wayne Bennett would be quick to snap young Campbell up for the Dolphins if they can’t get Kayln Ponga across the line. Personally, I love watching Jayden Campbell and Reece Walsh play. Although their styles are different to Cody Walker they are like him in that they are natural talents who were born to play the game and play it several steps ahead of their opposition.
mushi
Roar Guru
If they are shifting him, hope that they have more mettle than the Knights. Otherwise the titans don't have the margin for error to sacrifice part of the season just to abandon the long term plan.
Nat
Roar Guru
That was my thought at the time. Not sure how coach felt about it.
Tony
Roar Guru
Let's hope the CEO told the coach who was playing where before he made the announcement. My tip is that Brimson will be fullback (assuming he's fit) by no later than round 4.
Nat
Roar Guru
The club CEO came out on radio not after they were eliminated and told the world of this plan. He went as far to say that Sexton would be #7. Must have been comforting for Fogarty. Exciting talent but it's a young spine leading a young team.