Gold Coast Titans fullback AJ Brimson has informed the club he doesn't want to leave unless it's for the PNG Chiefs.
The fullback is one of three at the club, and while Jayden Campbell has shuffled in to the halves in recent years, Keano Kini has overtaken Brimson in the race to play at the back.
With Campbell now likely to be a five-eighth rather than a halfback, owing to the rise of Zane Harrison, the only way Brimson will see any game time with the Gold Coast is in the centres.
That led to him and the club to begin discussing a release, and some weeks ago, he was formally given permission to negotiate his future away from the glitter strip from as soon as the start of 2027.
That news came despite Brimson only re-signing last year through to the end of 2030 to be one of the longest tenured Titans.
Brimson might be a big part of the DNA at the Titans, but The Sydney Morning Herald are reporting his potential release has taken another twist.
Instead of being willing to move to other clubs in Australia, it's understood the star fullback is only interested in pursuing a move to the PNG Chiefs where he would join what will become the NRL's 19th club in 2028.
The Chiefs already have seven signings, and while money will quickly become a concern if they continue to sign big names, Brimson would fill a void at fullback, where they could currently be looking at either Joseph Manu or Zac Lomax - both centres who have spent recent times in rugby union - to play in the number one jumper.
It could make Brimson a pivotal signing for the Chiefs, with director of football Michael Chammas also going after Canberra Raiders second-rower Hudson Young, and ready to table what is believed to be a staggering $1.5 million per year to Nathan Cleary should he arrive on Novemnber 1 without a contract in place.
What has taken a twist is the fact Brimson now may be unlikely to leave the Titans for 2027.
In the same move that Jarome Luai at the Parramatta Eels and Connor Watson at the St George Illawarra Dragons are about to make, it's understood the idea of a one-year lay-over at another club desperate for a fullback before he moves to PNG could have been on the cards for Brimson.
The report however suggests he has told the Titans he is unwilling to do that, meaning he could well remain at Robina for another 12 months, sucking up salary cap and playing out of position, before becoming part of Willie Peters' inaugural squad.
Money is also believed to be an issue.
The Titans are paying Brimson about $950,000 per year, but the Chiefs have set his value at $700,000.
Clubs are unable to pay less to a player than they are currently earning in a club switch under salary cap rules, meaning the Chiefs would have to convince the Gold Coast to chip in around $250,000 per year for Brimson to play for them.
