By TREVOR BAXTER
WRITE a feature on Jeff Bimson?
Didn’t be play for the mighty Chorley Borough back in the day? Brimstone and Treacle, you say? That Dennis Potter play and later film featuring Denholm Elliott?
No, cloth-ears!
AJ Brimson– the Aussie NRL lad who has declared himself a Pom to catch the eye of Shaun Wane. Never heard of him, Tone, but let’s have a crack anyway.
And if his change o allegiance does lead to anything significant this Autumn then plenty more people will know the name.
To start with, AJ stands for Alexander James, born on September 8, 1988 in Brisbane. He attended Keebra Park State High, which has produced a string of top-class rugby league
players as long as the Australian dingo fence.
From Benji Marshall to Ben Murdoch Masila, Tim Smith to Rangi Chase! ‘Brimmy’ subsequently signed for Gold Coast Titans where he has been a one-club man ever since, clocking up more than 120 appearances since his NRL debut in 2018.
He was voted Titans’ rookie of the year, during which time he completed an
apprenticeship in carpentry. So, if England do call on his services, he can always ensure he constructs a sturdy enough bench to sit on! Apparently, he is a dab hand at making wine racks too. Corking!
One of three brothers, AJ was definitely a chip off the old block as late father Ian, who died aged 62 in 2011, represented Queensland Schoolboys, once featuring in a
curtain raiser to an Australia-Great Britain Test at Lang Park.
Dad and AJ’s mum, Vanessa, met in the UK, where sons Charlie and Will were born. AJ was born in Brizzie, but mum’s lineage allows for his international conversion.
Will Brimson retired from the game last year at the age of 24. Younger bro AJ has also copped his fair share of injuries, including a spine stress fracture while competing in the Perth Nines in 2020.
Brimson originally saw action at the start of his career as a five-eighth, but his versatility subsequently allowed him to cover most positions across the back line.
He quickly became a favourite with Titans’ fans and began also to catch the eyes of state and country talent spotters. AJ became a Junior Kangaroo in 2019, playing in the World
Cup Nines and a season later was picked for Queensland for their opening State of
Origin fixture.
He celebrated with a try and a foot injury – the latter keeping him out for the rest of the series. He pulled on the Maroons’ jersey twice more in 2021 and then again for the final time in 2024.
Any move to play for England will end further State ambitions. But thanks to a ruling of the
International Rugby League board back in May, AJ now qualifies for any future senior international honours.
Until then he was barred from switching tier one nations. However, as the World Nines never became the regular fixture originally anticipated, latitude was given for the change.
IRL Chair Troy Grant described it as: “A unique case…”. That ruling has also provided a
potential opening for Kalyn Ponga to trade the Aussies for New Zealand by the way.
Whether Brimson had the ear of Wane before embarking on his landmark case remains to be seen. But he seems to have gone to an awful lot of trouble if there is to be no end result.
Where he might fit into the side initially looked a conundrum. However, Jack Welsby’s recent knee injury and subsequent race against time to be fit for the Ashes could just have opened the door for AJ to become a ready-made replacement should the Saints man miss out.
Will Wane then be tempted to give the young man a go and throw some fire and
Brimson at those devilish Kangaroos?