Reject gets a lifeline
Cut by Gold Coast, Brenko Lee has landed at the Storm
RUGBY LEAGUE: Gold Coast Titans reject Brenko Lee has resurrected his NRL career by signing with premiership powerhouse Melbourne Storm.
Lee has inked a one-year contract with the Storm after flirting with the idea of switching to rugby union.
The 24-year-old played 20 NRL games over the past two years with the Titans, but was not offered a new deal when coach Justin Holbrook took over the club.
Lee had entertained the idea of switching to Super Rugby’s Melbourne Rebels before he secured a contract with the Easts Tigers – an affiliate club of the Storm – in the Intrust Super Cup and was offered an NRL lifeline by Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.
Like ex-Titans halfback Ryley Jacks, Lee has ended up at the 2019 minor premiers after being moved on by last season’s wooden spooners.
An outside back, Lee was involved in Queensland Emerging Origin camps, but managed only six NRL appearances last year under then coach Garth Brennan.
A 53-game NRL journeyman, Lee will attempt to resurrect his career under the incredibly successful Bellamy at the Storm.
Bellamy has a track record of extracting every bit of talent out of players and he needs backline depth following the departure of star centres Curtis Scott (Canberra) and Will Chambers (Japanese rugby).
The Titans further freed up salary cap space yesterday by releasing prop Leilani Latu to English Super League club Warrington.
Latu, 26, was a disastrous signing for the Titans, arriving at the Gold Coast from Penrith, Brennan’s former club, in 2018 on a deal worth $450,000 a season.
He managed only nine NRL appearances in two seasons, due to poor form and injuries, and spent much of his time in the Intrust Super Cup.
The Titans were desperate to offload Latu and finally managed to do so.
“Leilani and his family have been passionate members of the Gold Coast community and, as a club, we are supportive of him taking this new opportunity for his career and family,” Titans performance chief Mal Meninga said.
“The Titans thank Leilani for his time at the club and wish him nothing but the best for the future.”
The Titans have been open to offloading former Penrith players Bryce Cartwright and Tyrone Peachey but have had little interest in the duo.