Neil Cadigan

Two teenage stars with the Ben Campbell Building Group Seagulls ISC team this season, Moeaki Fotuaika and Alexander Brimson, will play together for the Gold Coast Titans against premiers Melbourne Storm in the NRL double-header at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Both were prominent in the Seagulls 52-24 victory over the Cutters in Mackay in our last match before last weekend’s bye. Now they will go head to head with internationals like Australian Test captain Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cameron Munster, Ryan Hoffman, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Felise Kaufusi before more than 30,000 in Brisbane.

The 19-year-old Brimson will debut at five-eighth, joins 18-year-old prop Fotuaika (pictured), who made a surprise debut in the front row off the bench against Canberra’s monster pack last Saturday. Their elevation proves that good form for the Seagulls is being recognised.

When asked whether pitching Brimson, who has been playing fullback for the Seagulls, into the cauldron of a double-header in Brisbane against a ruthless Storm side desperate to strike back after a 20-point loss to the Dragons, Titans coach Garth Brennan confessed: “In the NRL there is no easy week.”

The reality is that he had to act to end his team’s slide.

Four successive losses have prompted Brennan to make his first team shake-up in his young Telstra Premiership coaching career, dropping his “favourite player” Konrad Hurrell out of the 17 and Bryce Cartwright back to the bench.

It is a big call for Brennan to throw Brimson into the throes against the reigning premiers and tough aggressive Storm No. 6 Munster. He becomes Ash Taylor’s third halves partner this season behind Kane Elgey and Bryce Cartwright.

Cartwright, who will start on the bench against the Storm, has been hesitant in defence and lacking commitment to take the line on with the ball.

Hurrell again made crucial errors with the ball against the Raiders and with Dale Copley returning from injury and Brenko Lee match-fit after returning from a knee injury suffered in the trials, the hard call had to be made.

NSW Origin hooker Nathan Peats has been chosen in the 21-man squad and will play if he can prove he is ready to return from a rib injury by week’s end. However, Queensland Origin hopeful Jai Arrow has been rested because of a rib injury.

Brimson has been preferred to Elgey who played strongly when sent back to Tweed in the Intrust Super Cup but has had only one match there with the Seagulls having a bye last weekend.

“It’s a case that he gives me what I’m looking for,” Brennan said of teenager Brimson.

“He’s a strong defender, quite solid in his build. And he’s a runner, there’s no doubt about that.

“When you talk about a half who can defend run the ball, it’s exciting.

“He’s willing and ready for the challenge.

“It’s not ideal. It’s our third halves combination this year.

“I knew this year was a bit of trial to see what the best way for us was going forward. AJ is part of our plans; he is signed long term and it’s important for me to look at him and see where his development is and see where he needs to improve.

“It’s exciting. He’s one of our local juniors and I’ve held him back but I thought it was time for him to go in there and see what he can do.

“He’s excited and when I asked him if he thought he was ready he virtually said ‘what took you so long’.”

Brimson becomes the 11^th player to debut for the Titans in the first nine rounds behind Arrow, Cartwright, Brenko Lee, Fotuaika, Michael Gordon, Mitch Rein, Will Matthews, Leilani Latu, Jack Stockwell and Brendan Elliot.