Tonga international granted release from Brisbane Broncos contract

Tonga international Brenko Lee has been granted a release from the final year of his contract with Brisbane Broncos in 2023.

The 26-year-old outside-back signed a two-year contract with the Broncos ahead of this season. However, the Queensland club have confirmed he has been granted a release from the second year of his deal next season.

Lee will remain with Brisbane for the rest of this season before heading for pastures new.

A club statement read: “The Broncos can confirm that Brenko Lee has been granted a release from the final year of his contract in 2023.

“Brenko will remain with the Broncos until the end of the 2022 NRL season.”

Brisbane-born Lee has made 70 NRL appearances for Canberra Raiders, Canterbury Bulldogs, Gold Coast Titans, Melbourne Storm and the Broncos since making his first-grade debut in 2014.

Lee is of Tongan and Indigenous Australian heritage. He made his international debut for Tonga in the 2017 mid-season test against Fiji.

The centre or winger made one appearance for Queensland in State of Origin in 2020.

New Zealand and Tonga rivalry has potential to be like State of Origin believes coach

The rivalry between New Zealand and Tonga has the potential to be as big as State of Origin.

That’s what Tonga head coach Kristian Woolf believes. The two Pacific nations meet this Saturday for the Pacific Test in Auckland.

Woolf told Love Rugby League: “Obviously State of Origin and things like that are very significant in the rugby league calendar and carry a lot of importance. But if you grow up in New Zealand or if you’re Tongan, this game is the biggest you can get.

“There’s a real rivalry there. I think given time and opportunity, it can really grow to be like a State of Origin sort of rivalry. It could have that kind of profile and presence in the sporting calendar, particularly in New Zealand.”

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