Gold Coast Titans centre Brenko Lee opens up on his almost four-month exile from the NRL

Brenko Lee admits the thought had crossed his mind that he may have to start searching for a “normal job” during his almost four-month exile from the NRL. Revisit his 2019 story from outcast to an Origin star today.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Treymain Spry of the Titans makes a break past Tom Trbojevic of the Sea Eagles during the round 19 NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Gold Coast Titans at Lottoland on September 19, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

BRENKO Lee admits the thought had crossed his mind that he may have to start searching for a “normal job” during his almost four-month exile from the NRL.

Titans senior coach Craig Hodges felt the team needed to inject some enthusiasm and desperation into their top 17 and Lee certainly ticked those boxes as he tries to prove there is more life yet in his first grade career.

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The 38-18 loss to the Storm marked the centre’s 50th NRL game and he got off to the perfect start, pouncing on a loose Cameron Smith pass to open the scoring in the second minute.

Brenko Lee on his way to a try. Picture: AAP Image

It was the kind of effort Hodges was searching for, with Lee pushing up in the defensive line to put himself in with a chance of being in the right place at the right time.

The game gradually went Melbourne’s way but the off-contract 23-year-old hopes he has done enough to keep pushing for a spot in Gold Coast’s 2020 roster.

“We don’t want to finish last so everything we do is desperate. The whole club is under review and not everyone is guaranteed a position,” he said.

“I come off-contract again this year so every game I play is like my last. I think every game I play from now on, even if I do get a new deal, I’ll play like it’s my last game.”

Brenko Lee at training last month. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

Having played the first two NRL matches of the year on the wing, Lee said doubts had begun to creep in while he was stuck in the Intrust Super Cup.

“You start thinking, am I a rugby league player or do I need to find a normal job?” he said.

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“You go through thoughts like that but at the end of the day things happen for a reason and that’s that and I’m just trying to look forward and be positive and know what I need to work on.”

Asked what he would be if he wasn’t a footy player, Lee added: “That’s a good question.

“My whole life has been this. Obviously I made my debut when I was 18 and I moved to Canberra when I was 16; I’m 23 and this is all I’ve really known.”