From ‘useless’ two-week rugby stint to the grand final
BRENKO Lee was a broken man.
Just 12 months ago, he was ready to join the workforce. The Titans had moved him on. His NRL career in tatters, Lee sought a lifeline with a shock defection to rugby union, but after two disastrous weeks training at the Melbourne Rebels, Lee walked out, literally in tears as his sporting world caved in.
Yet here he is, ready to run out in his maiden grand final appearance for the Storm in Sunday night’s decider against Penrith at ANZ Stadium.
As redemption stories go, few can match the rags-to-riches resurrection of Lee, who is 80 minutes away from a premiership ring after three failed stints at Canberra, Canterbury and the Titans.
“If you told me I would have been in a grand final, I would have asked what you are smoking because I didn’t think it was possible,” said Lee, who plays his 67th
NRL game in the 2020 decider.
“I was close to pulling the pin completely. Coming to the Storm has been a life-changing experience mentally and physically.
“I nearly gave it away after the Titans told me it was best for us to part ways and go in a different direction.”
Believing his NRL career was in the rubbish, Lee found his way to another Melbourne sporting club – rugby’s Rebels. His code defection was a debacle.
“After two weeks of trying union, I didn’t understand the sport and felt useless,” he recalls.
“I thought maybe I should work, so I went back to Logan (in Brisbane).”
Then came the Sliding Doors moment. His former assistant coach at the Titans, Craig Hodges, took charge of Intrust Super Cup side Easts Tigers, which had feeder-club ties with the Storm.
And the rest is history as Lee will play in the centres in the 2020 grand final.