AJ Brimson doesn’t want his 2025 season to end with claiming his first Paul Broughton Medal… he wants an Ashes series victory to top off his best season to date.
But that won’t be for the Kangaroos, instead wanting the Three Lions on his chest in honour of his mum who was born and raised in England – having changed his International allegiance earlier this year to represent his Great Britain heritage.
With the highly-anticipated three-match Test series awaiting, Brimson is hoping he’ll have Shaun Wane on the phone soon to break the news he’ll be running out in front of 90,000 at Wembley Stadium next month.
“Fingers crossed I get the chance… it’s going to be an amazing opportunity to represent England. It’s my mum’s side and I have lots of family over there,” he said.
“To be able to play in an Ashes series for England against Australia, fingers crossed I’ve done all I can. It’ll be a massive achievement and something that I’ve dreamt of doing.
“I’m going to keep training hard and hope for that call.”
Brimson alongside his biggest supporter, mum Vanessa.
©Titans Media
It will be a tough decision to leave the versatile dynamo out, playing at fullback, five-eighth and centre at different stages of the year to earn the Titans’ most prestigious individual honour on Tuesday night.
Edging out Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Jayden Campbell by claiming 16 of a possible 24 player points in a sublime final eight games, the 27-year-old – who’s now in his eighth season on the Gold Coast – had a slow start in the tally for the club award he’s always eyed off since 2019.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to win since I debuted, but when you start getting into your career, you begin to think ‘oh, maybe I won’t get the chance,” Brimson said.
“I actually was eating dinner and saw that I was in second (at the Round 18 mark) and I thought ‘oh that’s good’, but then I saw I was nine points [behind Tino] and thought ‘oh that’s not good’.
“Tino had another great year so I didn’t really know what to expect there [when the voting went down to the wire].
“It’s a tough award to win. I’m just happy to get one to my name… I’m stoked.”
AJ Brimson after accepting his first Paul Broughton Medal.
©Titans Media
A hopeful Ashes call-up will result in a delay to his pre-season return to Parkwood, but Brimson has already spent time with incoming mentor Josh Hannay whom he is looking forward to working with having spent time together in Queensland Origin camp previously.
“I’m really excited for Josh to join the club, as much as I’ve loved being coached by Des,” he said.
“I caught up with him recently, but it was more culturally about how we can grow as players.
“I think we’re going to come into pre-season and that’s where he’ll lay the law down about where he wants who, if positions are up for grab and if he wants me in the halves or at centre or at fullback.
“Right now I’ve just spoken to him about how excited he is to be joining the club and what he can bring.”