AJ Brimson – you know him, right?
Gold Coast Titans stalwart, equally comfortable at fullback or in the halves, got into a minor spot of bother over a social media prank gone wrong last year.
Okay, maybe scrub that last one, but England’s latest recruit can be added to the list after the 26-year-old was granted dispensation to switch allegiance from Australia by International Rugby League.
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Brimson’s switch, courtesy of an English mother, comes ahead of the first rugby league Ashes series for 22 years taking place this autumn and he could well be lining up against the Aussies alongside another heritage player in Victor Radley come the series opener at Wembley on October.
The question is, though, where does he fit into England head coach Shaun Wane’s plans?
“I love being just in the spine, six or one,” Brimson said on his favoured role after helping the Titans to victory over the Dolphins in a pre-season game back in February.
“I just have to tackle a bit, so that’s a bit annoying, but that’s life.
“I got a lot of hands on the ball, so that’s just all I want to do.
“I just want to have an impact on the game in attack.”
Brimson’s versatility will undoubtedly be a huge asset to Wane’s squad, having shown his ability to slot in at stand-off this year for the Titans in the injury-enforced absence of Kieran Foran.
It is, however, difficult to see him getting into the England team in the No 6 position barring injuries though, seeing as that is occupied by captain George Williams.
Neither does it seem likely that Wane would prefer him over either Mikey Lewis or Harry Smith at scrum-half, so fullback seems the more likely option.
The No 1 slot does seem a slight problem position for England, as beyond Jack Welsby there is no obvious home-grown candidate to slot in if the St Helens man goes down injured or suspended.
True, Jake Connor is enjoying something of a career renaissance at Leeds Rhinos and would, like Brimson, provide halfback cover as well, but the 30-year-old has not played for England since 2018 and his maverick streak has never found favour with Wane.
Will Pryce, back in the Betfred Super League with Hull FC after 18 months in the NRL at Newcastle Knights, may yet emerge as a challenger even though his role with the Black and Whites would seem to be in the halves when ex-New Zealand international Jordan Rapana is available.
Wakefield Trinity’s uncapped Max Jowitt, formerly of the England Knights performance set-up, and one-cap international Niall Evalds are among other options Wane may consider, although at the same time he would likely err in throwing either straight in against the undisputed kings of international rugby league.
So, Brimson, who has played 72 matches at fullback in his career compared to 45 at stand-off according Rugby League Project, seems the next most likely candidate after Welsby – but that, too, raises a question of its own.
Has the Gold Coast man really given up on representing Australia, not to mention his State of Origin eligibility and the possibility of a return to the Queensland set-up, to serve as a back-up to Welsby or Williams?
It is difficult to imagine he would have done so without speaking to Wane about his plans or what he expects his involvement to be.
Just exactly what that will be as England try to end Australia’s 55-year dominance of rugby league’s Ashes remains to be seen.
