Gold Coast Titans back AJ Brimson has made it clear where his focus lies heading into Friday night’s clash with the Sydney Roosters.
Helping his side respond after a disappointing outing against the Raiders on the weekend.
The Titans endured a tough review following last weekend’s performance, with Brimson describing the tone set by coach Josh Hannay as “brutal” but necessary.
“It was pretty honest and open,” Brimson said.
“He just said he can cop losing, but not the effort that we showed, especially early in the game.
"It affects not just us, but the staff, the fan base and the city, so yeah, pretty angry yesterday, as you’d expect.”
Brimson isn’t shying away from the challenge ahead though, particularly against a Roosters outfit in good form.
“They’re always a quality team and they’re in good form at the moment, so it’s a good challenge for us,” he said.
“I do think sometimes the harder the challenge, the better we go… it’s probably a bit of a blessing to be versing a team that’s in really good form right now to try and bounce back.”
Amid ongoing positional shifts throughout his career, Brimson has once again found himself adapting to a move to the centres.
While acknowledging the frustrations that can come with moving roles, the 27-year-old is firmly team-first in his mindset.
“If my role is centre at the moment, and I’m just going to do my best to be the best centre I can,” he said.
“Winning for me is the number one outcome.
“As soon as I was put in the centres, my mindset changed.
"It’s not ‘why am I not here or there’, it’s about doing my job as well as I can to help the team win.”
That commitment has been evident in his developing combination on the right edge, particularly alongside Phillip Sami, who Brimson believes is in career-best form.
“I felt like we were pretty connected, especially in defence. If I’d go, he’d go type thing,” he said.
“Having that relationship off the field definitely helps, but Phil’s playing some unbelievable footy at the moment.”
“All I want to do is play my best footy and help the team win.”
“I’m really happy here and I just want to be part of turning the club around.”
With a clear point to prove, two debutants and a heavyweight opponent looming, Friday night presents the perfect stage for both Brimson and the Titans to respond.
