Aug 5th, 2019

Aug 5th, 2019

There's more bad news in store for the bruised and battered Gold Coast Titans.

I'm hearing Wests Tigers are already planning a raid on the Titans' best young player - electric fullback AJ Brimson - for 2021.

Brimson, a match-winning utility back who at 20 will only get better, is signed with the Titans until the end of next season.

That means that the Tigers can begin formal talks with the youngster in November - and word has it they are already preparing an offer too good to refuse.

With Benji Marshall likely to retire at the end of next season, Brimson shapes as the perfect player to fill his large shoes.

Titans star AJ Brimson. (Getty)

PARKER STUNS WITH TOUGHNESS

Much-improved Manly centre Brad Parker has stunned club officials with revelations he played for two weeks mid-season with a broken jaw.

It was reported at the time that Parker broke the jaw on the field against the Titans.

In fact, the injury occurred weeks earlier.

Parker was feeling pain in his teeth and dentists originally believed it was because he needed to have his wisdom teeth removed.

"He was feeling pain for a few weeks around the jaw and the dentist put it down to the wisdom teeth," Parker's manager Gavin Orr told Wide World of Sports.

"So they took an X-ray and found that Brad had a crack in his jaw. They couldn't believe it.

"He just thought it was a problem with his teeth and kept playing. It shows what a tough kid he is."

Parker recently returned to the field after missing nearly two months and he has been one of the big success stories at Brookvale under Des Hasler this season.

Manly centre Brad Parker. (Getty)

AUSSIES QUARTET IN ST HELENS MIX

St Helens boss Mike Rush arrives in Sydney this week with four main candidates to replace Titans-bound coach Justin Holbrook.

Disgraced Sharks coach Shane Flanagan is the favourite for the post, with Roosters lower grade coach Adam O'Brien, ex-Panthers and Broncos coach Anthony Griffin, Souths assistant Jason Demetriou and former Kangaroo Jim Dymock also in the frame.

Flanagan has yet to be cleared by the NRL to return to coaching after being caught out breaching his ban following the club's 2014 doping scandal cap.

But it is a grey area as to whether Flanagan can coach in England.

Manly hooker Apisai Koroisau. (AAP)

EELS WEIGH-UP KOROISAU BID

Don't be surprised if the Eels put in a sneaky late bid for Manly hooker Api Koroisau.

The Sea Eagles gave the 26-year-old livewire permission to negotiate with rival clubs last week and the Bulldogs, Tigers and Warriors showed immediate interest.

But Parramatta are also believed to be about to make a bid for Koroisau - despite the good form of youngster Reed Mahoney.

Coach Brad Arthur is a big Mahoney fan - but Koroisau is among the best dummy-halves in the NRL and would give the Eels far more strike power around the rucks.