“It baffles me”: Why Kemp doesn't like Brimson's position switch

Denan Kemp thinks the Titans are missing a trick for it's starting line-up by not selecting AJ Brimson as the starting five-eighth against the Broncos.

After losing their first three games, the Titans finally secured a win under Josh Hannay, albeit against the Dragons.

With that win, Hannay has decided to maintain the same starting 13 for their clash against the Broncos, which sees former Dragon Lachlan Ilias maintain his place at five-eighth alongside Jayden Campbell.

But Kemp believes that the former Sharks assistant should revert his halves combination back to what it was for the first three games, which saw Brimson, who is now in the centres, to partner Campbell.

“I don’t like Brimo at centre,” Kemp said on SEN’s Saturday League Kick-Off.

“I think he is a better five-eighth than (Lachlan) Ilias, and I think Ilias is a seven.

"Maybe they’re missing a conservative, traditional half kicking game, and maybe (Josh) Hannay has gone, ‘Although Jayden Campbell does have a decent boot on him and can kick quite long and (has) a great short kicking game, is it a traditional punching balls into the pocket, keeping teams in their own end?’ Maybe not.

“So, maybe that’s what Hannay has identified and brought (Ilias) in because outside of that, it baffles me a little bit.

“I just think Brimo at six, like defensively, they are probably the same. Attacking-wise, he is a substantially better six than Ilias.”

However, the former Broncos winger notes that Hannay should be experimenting with the side given it's first year in charge.

“But, in saying that, there are in a position now where they are in the depths of a rebuild,” Kemp acknowledged.

“It’s early (in the) season. If you can try things (then) do try (them).

“But it does concern me for AJ Brimson long term because he is probably on a pretty big wicket at the club.

“So, salary cap wise, this is not sustainable. They cannot afford to be paying AJ Brimson $700k to play as a non-specialist centre.”

Kemp also offered the possibility of potentially moving Brimson into fullback if Keano Kini continues his struggles for a couple more weeks.

“If Kini stays as flat (in performance) as he is for another five, six rounds, there might be a world where Brimo goes back there,” he added.

The Gold Coast Titans go up against the Brisbane Broncos on Saturday night at Cbus Super Stadium.

SEN will have live coverage of the match through Broncos Radio which can be found on SENQ and on the SEN app from 7:20pm AEDT.

Kick-off is at 7:35pm.