Veteran custodian Michael Gordon insists AJ Brimson has the talent to become an elite NRL fullback and wants to play an active role in bringing that potential to fruition.
Gordon has been named to start at fullback in Sunday's clash with the Storm with Brimson moving back to the bench, the pair switching from the positions they started last week's 36-12 loss to the Eels.
Brimson had a torrid first half with the Eels' first two tries coming off a high ball and a grubber, neither of which he was able to defuse.
Gordon is highly valued within the Gold Coast club for both his positional play and ability to organise a defensive line, skills he had to develop over the course of his 14-year career that will come to a close in three weeks' time.
With his own NRL playing days ending, Gordon said that he has already been in touch with Titans hierarchy including head of performance and culture Mal Meninga about helping to maximise 20-year-old Brimson's talents in the coming years.
Every try from Round 22
"I've been speaking to Mal and the club about potentially staying on for a small role next year,” Gordon said.
"Whether it's working with AJ or the backs or whatever I just want to be involved with the club because I know they're heading in the right direction and I want to be a part of it going forward.
"Physically he doesn't really need to do much and he's got all the tricks and skills, it's probably just little finer details.
"It's studying the opposition a bit. When I was first playing fullback it was certainly nowhere near as structured. These days it's all about line organisation.
“Teams are so structured in attack you can replicate what they're doing in 'D' and have your numbers set but when I first started there was none of that. It was just follow the ball around but now it's a lot more technical.
"It's not hard to learn, it just takes a bit of time and understanding.
"He's only 20 or so games into his career so that's going to come with time.
"He's just such a great kid and he's got a long and great rep career ahead of him as well."
Regarded as one of few bright spots in a horror Titans season and a key component of a successful Gold Coast team in future, Brimson has started 14 of his 33 career games in the No.1 jersey, scoring six tries.
His speed and attacking instincts make him a fullback of great promise and he has already tapped into some of the best No.1s of all time.
In addition to Gordon, Brimson had one-on-one tuition with Maroons legend Billy Slater when he was called in to spend time in the Queensland camp prior to Origin III.
"He was the first training day I was there and grabbed him at the end of the session and was working on a few skills things and asked him a few little questions, tried to get what I could out of him,” Brimson said.
"He's really big on knowing his opposition and studying what they can do.
Match Highlights: Titans v Eels
"Also clear early calls and getting those combinations with your edges right so when your back’s against the wall and you're fatigued it's second nature.”
Missing seven weeks in the middle of the season due to a blood clot in his leg, Gordon suffered a hamstring strain in the 58-6 thumping by the Roosters in round 20.
The 35-year-old admitted that he thought that could have been his final NRL game and is now grateful for the chance for a 259th top-grade appearance.
"At first I thought it was season over,” Gordon said of his hamstring injury that kept him out of the clash with the Dragons in round 21.
“I've done plenty of hammys before and they can be pretty tricky coming back from.
“You can push them too hard and blow them completely but we did a really good job with the medical staff.
"I had to push it to test it out because I didn't want to go into a game and last five minutes and do it properly."
