AJ Brimson could be in line for a lucrative tax-free payday with the PNG Chiefs, but a financial standoff with the Gold Coast Titans is threatening to complicate his potential departure.
The 28-year-old remains in negotiations with the Titans and the Chiefs over a move to the NRL's 19th franchise as a foundation player from 2028.
According to reports by the Courier Mail, the parties are at odds over the financial terms of Brimson's proposed early release, with the Titans and Chiefs yet to agree on how to bridge the gap between his current salary and PNG's offer.
Brimson is contracted to the Titans until the end of 2030 after extending his deal in 2024, meaning he would be leaving three seasons before its expiry if he joined the Chiefs at the start of their inaugural season.
The Chiefs have reportedly offered Brimson a three-year deal worth around $750,000 per season, tax-free, while his current Titans contract is understood to be worth approximately $900,000 annually.
Despite the lower headline salary, Brimson could earn up to $1 million more in net pay over the course of the deal due to the tax-free advantages of playing in Papua New Guinea.
However, the financial details of his potential release remain unresolved, with the parties needing to reach an agreement before he can leave the Gold Coast early.
With the Chiefs not entering the competition until 2028, Brimson could also consider a short-term deal elsewhere if he and the Titans agree to an early release.
The Titans granted Brimson permission to speak with rival clubs in August after his management requested it, opening the door to a potential departure from the club where he has spent his entire NRL career.
Chiefs coach Willie Peters confirmed his club's interest but said the next move rested with Brimson's management and the Titans.
“It's with his management and the Titans now,” he said.
“There's obviously strong interest from our end and we've just got to wait and see where that goes.
“We're waiting to hear back from his management and then the Titans to see what they're going to do with the situation.
“But I certainly like the way he plays and I think he'd be an asset to us.”
Brimson made his NRL debut for the Titans in 2018 and has since played 157 first-grade games.
He has spent most of his career at fullback, but has since moved into the halves and now the centres as the Titans' backline has evolved.
Keano Kini has established himself at fullback, while Jayden Campbell and Zane Harrison are options in the halves, leaving Brimson's long-term position on the Gold Coast uncertain.
His changing role, combined with the interest from PNG, has raised questions about where he fits into the Titans' future plans.
A move to the Chiefs would give the expansion club an experienced NRL player capable of covering several positions as they prepare for their 2028 debut.
However, Brimson would not be guaranteed the fullback jersey in PNG, with the club expected to have plenty of competition for spots across its backline.
His potential arrival could create a battle for the number one jersey alongside Joseph Manu and even Zac Lomax, with the remaining two players potentially filling the centre positions, with Alex Johnston and Brian To'o set for the wing.
The competition for places could provide healthy competition and greater certainty for the Chiefs' backline, although Brimson's preferred position may ultimately depend on how the squad takes shape.
For now, Brimson's future remains uncertain as the parties work through the financial details of a potential early release.
An agreement could open the door for the Queensland product to find a temporary home before joining the Chiefs, but the Titans, Brimson and PNG must first find common ground.
