England star AJ Brimson injury prognosis confirmed as Gold Coast Titans share fresh update
Gold Coast Titans have confirmed that AJ Brimson will be sidelined until the New Year after suffering a shoulder injury whilst on international duty with England.
The 27-year-old was forced to leave the field in the 11th minute of England’s 30-8 defeat to Australia in the third and final Test of the Ashes series at AMT Headingley on Saturday afternoon, and was replaced by Hull KR star Mikey Lewis, who became England’s makeshift fullback for the remaining 69 minutes.
Brimson subsequently had scans to determine the severity of the injury, which has come back as a grade three AC joint injury, ruling him out of pre-season training for a couple of months.
He will now begin a rehab programme with a view to being back in full training with his NRL club Gold Coast Titans in January, ahead of the NRL pre-season trials getting underway in February.
Brimson made his full international debut this autumn after successfully switching his allegiance from birth nation Australia to England, whom he qualifies to represent through his mother, who hails from London, with his siblings having been born in England.
The Brisbane-born fullback missed out on selection in the opening Ashes Test at Wembley, but came into Shaun Wane’s side for the second and third Tests, getting the nod over St Helens star Jack Welsby.
Speaking after the third defeat to Australia in Leeds, Wane admitted it was a huge blow to lose Brimson so early on, but said he has been a great addition to the English national side.
“He’s really, really damaged his AC, so bad, and they are really, really painful,” said Wane.
"He was so gutted to come off, he is a brave kid and he’s loved his time here. He has been a great addition to our squad. I’ve been really impressed (with him).
“That hurt us a lot, there is no doubt about that – that hurt the way we do everything, but I thought we adapted well, and that was the beauty of having Mikey on the bench. I didn’t expect to use him the way we used him. We still did some good things, but just not often enough.”