For Lee, the boy is back in town

EVER since he was 16, Brenko Lee’s New Year celebrations have been tainted with the knowledge he would soon be leaving his family behind.

Lee’s parents and 11 younger siblings are based in Logan.

The 22-year-old moved to Canberra as a teenager to chase his NRL dream, making his debut midway through 2014.

Stuck behind Green Machine centre pairing Jarrod Croker and Joey Leilua, he switched to the Bulldogs this year for more opportunities and now has secured his long-held dream to return to southeast Queensland as a first grade footballer.

Lee moved home on Wednesday, a day before Gold Coast announced his signing on a one-year deal.

A product of Logan Brothers, where legends including Cameron Smith and Corey Parker played their junior football, Lee is over the moon to know he won’t spend another year away from family.

“When they knew that I’m back, you couldn’t wipe the smile off of their faces,” Lee told the Bulletin.

“When I was at the Bulldogs and Raiders, coming back for Christmas and New Years was something I always did, I never went anywhere else but come back home.

“But I always used to feel sad after New Years because I knew that I had to go back on the plane and go back to Sydney or Canberra.

“Now after Christmas and New Years I can stay here.

“I’m back home.”

After having a heart-toheart about “some personal issues” with new Bulldogs mentor Dean Pay, who he knew at the Raiders, Lee’s management contacted Titans coach Garth Brennan and set the wheels in motion for a deal in time for Christmas.

“Everything looked good at the Dogs but for me it was more than just playing footy, it was to be happy and be back with my family,” Lee said.

The 33-gamer represented Tonga this year courtesy of his mother’s heritage but considers himself a Queenslander first and foremost.

Lee has come through the Emerging Maroons system and has been touted for higher honours in future.

His recruitment strengthens the Titans’ stocks out wide, with Konrad Hurrell, Dale Copley and Phillip Sami among other centre options.

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THE SIGNING OF BRENKO LEE HAS SWELLED THE NUMBER OF TITANS RECRUITS TO NINE FOR 2018. CONNOR O’BRIEN RANKS EACH NEW FACE AS TO HOW MUCH VALUE THEY COULD BRING THE SIDE VOTE FOR YOUR NO.1 AT GOLDCOASTBULLETIN.COM.AU

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WILL MATTHEWS Injury ruined his 2017 season but he showed the year before he could cut it as a tough NRL regular. 6

LEILANI LATU Massive talent. A big forward with excellent skills who is yet to unlock his full potential. 3

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