Melbourne centre Brenko Lee’s impressive first NRL season with the Storm has been rewarded with a new one-year deal.

As NRL clubs begin finalising squads for the 2021 season, Lee as well as young playmaker Cooper Johns have both signed 12-month deals with the Storm.

It caps a big year for Lee, who joined the Storm after being released by Gold Coast at the end of 2019, played 14 games in 2020 and was part of Melbourne’s grand final triumph over Penrith.

The 25-year-old was in line to make his State of Origin debut on Wednesday for Queensland but was ruled out before the game after failing a fitness test on his injured calf.

The Storm have also signed George Jennings from Parramatta on a two-year deal.

Meanwhile, the Sydney Roosters have tied down captain Jake Friend as well as brothers Brett Morris and Josh Morris for next season.

Friend, who made his debut for the Maroons in the 18-14 win over NSW in Adelaide, has made 263 appearances for the Roosters since debuting in 2008.