‘Doubt me more’: Best thriving as Knights surge on

Jasper Bruce | August 21, 2023

Newcastle’s Bradman Best puts his career-best season down to new levels of self-belief, and the desire to prove his doubters wrong has only emboldened him.

Now, the centre is keen to ink a new contract extension with the Knights as their ongoing surge to the finals continues.

Brad Fittler’s decision to select the uncapped Best in the NSW side for July’s third State of Origin match was met with scepticism from media pundits as the likes of Izack Tago, Will Penisini and Kotoni Staggs missed out.

But the call proved a masterstroke. Best enjoyed one of the great Origin debuts, scoring twice to help the Blues avoid a dreaded series whitewash.

Since then, Best’s stocks have risen in line with an ongoing seven-game winning streak that has the Knights on the cusp of securing a top-eight spot despite sitting 14th on the ladder in late June.

In Sunday’s defeat of South Sydney, Best and the Knights’ left edge completely neutralised their counterparts on the right, with Best scoring once and keeping his opposite man Campbell Graham uncharacteristically quiet.

For Best, the game was further proof that good things can happen with a bit of self-confidence – something that grew substantially in a week with the Blues.

“Listening to Cody Walker, Cam Murray, Cookie (Damien Cook), they gave me a lot of belief,” Best said.

“I (had) probably relied on others to believe in me. It wasn’t until the start of this year that came from within. Once I started doing that and playing good footy week-in, week-out, it flowed from there.

“I’m just grateful to come back and play good footy with the boys here because they’re the ones who got me in that Blues jersey.”

Best has become used to criticism this season, notably after the much-maligned Bali trip he took in late April during a bye immediately after the Knights’ hefty loss to Parramatta. 

So when he was being written off by pundits ahead of his surprise Origin debut, he became steeled to take his game to new heights.

“There was plenty of doubters, there were plenty of haters,” he said.

“I love it. Doubt me more and I’ll show you, that just adds fire to the belly. It doesn’t bother me.

“I’m just grateful to come back and play good footy with the boys here because they’re the ones who got me in that Blues jersey.”

Best’s current contract runs through 2024 so he can begin negotiating with rivals from November 1, but the 22-year-old has no plans to leave the Knights.

“What we’re doing this year is really special,” he said.

“We’ve got some big players, this club’s going somewhere and I obviously want to win a comp here.”