INDIGENOUS ROUND PROVES PERFECT TIME FOR DEBUT
INDIGENOUS Round means more to Gold Coast NRL newcomer Brenko Lee than most.
With the code engaged in a weekend of indigenous celebrations, the centre will make his Titans debut tonight at Suncorp Stadium.
Lee and his family – he is one of 13 children – uphold traditional values to this day. His father, Lloyd, is from Badu Island in the Torres Strait, where Lee visits annually in the off-season.
“Our traditions are very strong in our household,” he said.
“Everything we do is based on our culture, it’s our backbone.
“My parents, they have a traditional dance company, so my little brothers and sisters do it, things like that.”
Also popular among the Logan-based family is “traditional food” such as turtle and dugong.
“You don’t buy it, you go hunting,” Lee said. “That’s our tucker up in the islands, they hunt a lot.
“It’s very expensive up in the islands so if you don’t know how to hunt, basically you have to work in a good job to get some food.
“I have to stay off it because of my weight, but I could dig into it if there is some around.”
Lee’s travels north often coincide with the region’s league tournament, the Torres Strait Cup, during which he runs water for his family’s team. The 22-year-old comes into the Titans line-up at right centre, replacing axed Tongan Test star Konrad Hurrell, for their match against Melbourne.
“To make my club debut against the reigning premiers, it doesn’t get any bigger,” Lee said.
“It’s Indigenous Round this weekend and it’s in my hometown Brisbane so friends and family will be there. I don’t think the occasion could be any bigger.”