Could Knights young gun be a Blues bolter for 2020?
Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler isn’t getting carried away with the hype surrounding Bradman Best but he does believe the Newcastle rookie’s ability to learn is what could put him in the frame for State of Origin selection this season.
Best, 18, has captured the NRL world by storm after returning from a foot injury in Round Three to form a formidable combination with winger Edrick Lee. The Newcastle centre has scored five tries, had three try assists, made two line breaks and averaged 168 metres a game.
Fittler told Five with Freddy for nswrl.com.au that he had been impressed how Best recovered from bombing a try that would have handed the Knights a win over Penrith in Round Three to set one up for Lee in the exact same circumstances a week later to help secure a win over Canberra.
“Two weeks ago he had an opportunity to win the game when he came down the left-hand side and he had a pass to Edrick Lee that went behind him,” Fittler said.
“He had the same opportunity the following week and he went down and nailed the pass so not only has he got the talent but he also learns.
“With another 18 or 20 weeks or however far Newcastle go into the competition you’ve got to think if he’s learning along the way he’s only going to get better.
“That’s a pretty nice thing for a coach in my position.”
Fittler said Best had always been a standout coming through the ranks and he has already enjoyed a special moment with him after coaching him to a memorable last-gasp victory in a NSW Under 16s match against Queensland in 2017.
“He actually gave me one of my great highlights, it’s on the NSW Blues Facebook page,” Fittler said.
“In the last minute of the game between him and young Albert Hopoate they picked the ball up off the dead ball line and end up scoring on the bell to win the game.
“It was amazing so he was pretty much the best player as a kid coming through, he was fast and strong and he’s a beach sprint champion.
“They don’t always turn into first graders, and they don’t always turn into players that play 200 games, and they don’t always turn into players that play State of Origin, but it looks like Bradman Best is putting the right foot forward.”