“I’ll be playing for Liam”
Rugby player Alexander ‘AJ’ Brimson has dedicated the rest of his NRL career to his late friend Liam Hampson, who was found dead in a Barcelona nightclub last month.
Brimson was one of a group of friends travelling with Hampson through Europe when he went missing for 30 hours, with the Redcliffe Dolphins player later found by workers at the nightclub Sala Apolo.
The two athletes had known each other since high school and later lived together in southern Queensland for four years.
The 24-year-old made the dedication while speaking to the media on Wednesday, the first time he has done so since his friend’s death.
"The club has been really good, and it's been good getting into a routine again, not just sitting at home all day," Brimson said.
"And hanging out with the mates, it's been a good distraction.
"I don't want to be corny... but obviously I dedicate my season and my career to Liam.
"I've got to get some sort of tattoo where it won't be under my jersey so I can point to it if I score a try or something.
"I'll definitely be playing for Liam."
Brimson went on to describe his mate as “a legend bloke” and “a good footy player” who “lived life to the fullest”.
"He was stingy as, never showered," he said.
"Nah, he was a good bloke. We lived together for four years, went to school together from year nine to year 12. A legend bloke, a good footy player. He was probably on the verge of cracking NRL up there at (Redcliffe).
"He was actually unlucky not to get a pre-season here (at the Titans) after his 2021 season with Tweed.
"Happy as, lived life to the fullest, never stressed about anything."
Image: Instagram