England’s World Cup full-back AJ Brimson has edged closer to securing a move to the PNG Chiefs after he, the Chiefs, and his current club Gold Coast Titans agreed to a severance package.

The PNG Chiefs will enter the NRL in the 2028 season but squad building is well under way already with stars such as Jarome Luai, Joey Manu and Alex Johnston already signed up to the new club.

Former Hull KR head coach Willie Peters will coach the Chiefs and he spoke recently about the fact the club had ‘serious interest‘ in signing Brimson, who is contracted until the end of the 2030 season at the Titans.

However, Brimson has been forced to play centre this past season with Gold Coast backing young Kiwi star Keano Kini as their full-back, and that’s seen the player and both clubs explore a deal.

A sticking point was that Brimson’s current deal with the Titans is worth around $900,000 per season, though the PNG Chiefs were only willing to offer $700,000 – though that is tax-free.

As such, negotiations have been ongoing between all parties to ensure that Brimson is still paid his market value of $900,000 and per The Daily Telegraph, a severance package has now been agreed whereby the Titans will contribute to his salary, though that portion will be taxed.

AJ Brimson expected to make PNG Chiefs switch for 2028 as severance package agreed

It’s a major stumbling block that the three parties have overcome and it could now pave the way for an official announcement with Brimson expected to cash in around $1 million more thanks to the tax-free status of the PNG Chiefs’ salaries.

Speaking in October, the Chiefs head coach Willie Peters had confirmed that talks were with Brimson’s management and the Titans, adding: “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.”

If Brimson does sign with the Chiefs then he will become the second England international to do so after St Helens’ Matty Lees agreed the switch to the PNG club.

One issue still to be resolved regarding Brimson is where he would play his club rugby in 2027, whether it be with the Titans or a one-year stop gap at another club, as Chiefs’ signing Jarome Luai is doing with the Eels.

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