Ex-Maroon, premiership winner Brenko Lee’s NRL career is over

A player who has done nearly everything in his NRL career by the age of 27 is set to leave these shores are bouncing from a sixth club.

** CONTACT BRIS PIC DESK BEFORE USE ** QLD State of Origin team. Origin player Brenko Lee. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The NRL career of former one-game Origin player and premiership winner Brenko Lee appears to be over after he was granted an immediate release from his contract with the Dolphins.

The Courier Mail reported that the 27-year-old will leave Australian shores for the Super League after playing for six clubs in nine seasons.

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Lee was contracted until the end of next season but the Dolphins negotiated a severance package to allow the centre to chase a new contract.

Reportedly up to five Super League clubs are circling the centre after Lee played 13 games for the expansion club in the Dolphins’ inaugural season.

Lee has been in the NRL since debuting for Canberra in 2014 but has become a journeyman despite his tender age.

He has played just 88 games but had stints at Canberra, Canterbury, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Brisbane and now the Dolphins.

What a career. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Dolphins boss Terry Reader confirmed that Lee wouldn’t return next season but that he would forever be a member of the club’s inaugural squad.

“We have mutually agreed with his management to a release from the final year of his contract and wish him the best of luck in the next stage of his career,” Reader said.

“He was especially important in that first half of the season as we were establishing the way the Dolphins wanted to play.

“Brenko will always be remembered as a foundation player who was part of that spectacular round-one win over the Roosters.”

While Lee’s NRL career has been more tumultuous than successful, he has almost achieved it all in rugby league.

Wayne Bennett handed Lee his one and only Origin jersey in 2020, where he played in the decider of the series, where the Maroons won against the odds.

It was the same season Lee won a premiership ring with the Melbourne Storm, who defeated Penrith 26-20.

Brenko Lee tackled in Origin. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Lee with Josh Addo-Carr after winning the grand final with the Storm. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

He has also played international football with one-match for Tonga against Fiji in 2017.

Lee told The Mail he would be proud of the career he had.

“I have achieved a lot within the NRL,” he said.

“I won a grand final and State of Origin series along with being one of the inaugural Dolphins players, all of which I am proud of.

“I am looking for a new challenge and Super League is something I have always wanted to test myself in.”