Edrick Lee's money jar is full. Very full, in fact.
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Not from the new contract he has signed with the Newcastle Knights, but as a result of his hard work and dedication to return from injury.
Down and out last season after being told the broken bone in his foot had not healed correctly, Lee started putting coins in a "jar from Kmart" each day as he began the long road to recovery.
The jar served to keep him motivated and accountable as he fought to overcome another injury setback and continue his NRL career.
Lee had been on the verge of returning for the Knights in round 10 after initially recovering from breaking a bone in his foot last January.
He was feeling good, had trained well and even participated in the captain's run.
But a scan ordered as one last precaution showed the bone had not healed.
It stunned Lee and Knights performance staff, given he felt ready to play. He was ruled out and forced to begin a natural healing process.
But, ultimately, he went for surgery in July and his season was done.
"It was probably one of the roughest years I've had," Lee said on Thursday.
"The first year I've had to actually watch from the sidelines for the whole year.
"And halfway through the year, when everyone went up to the Sunny Coast for the bubble ... at the time I was fresh out of surgery. It was frustrating. I felt like I was isolated not being around the football environment."
Lee, who was off-contract at the end of last season, said he never really doubted he would return but admitted it was a difficult period.
Making matters worse was how the prolonged foot injury came after two injury-disrupted seasons, in each of which Lee broke his left arm. He had also fought back from the second break, which required 14 screws and two plates to fix, to make his debut for Queensland at the end of the 2020 season.
To stay motivated through last year's recovery, Lee threw coins into a jar each day. The thought being that, once he recovered, the jar would show how hard and long he had fought to return.
"It was a big jar that I placed in the kitchen up high on the top of the cupboard where no one else in my house could see it apart from me, being that tall," Lee said.
"It was sort of like an individual accountability jar.
"For all the days I was out, I would put like a dollar in every day just so I can make sure I'm on top of my things and I'm really working hard on my recovery and rehab.
"At the moment, it's pretty full and is a reminder that I've put all the hard work in so I can be confident in my ability to move forward."
Lee, who was on a train-and-trial contract until signing a one-year deal this week, is still reacquainting himself with full training.
Knights coach Adam O'Brien said he could be available as early as round three.
Lee, 29, is desperate to make up for lost ground and repay the Knights.
Earning another Queensland jersey is also on his list of goals.
As for the jar, Lee said he would keep filling it up until he makes his NRL return. He plans to spend it on presents for his partner and two kids.
"Three birthdays in the space of two weeks," he said.
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