Bradman Best had a fantastic conclusion to his 2023 season, forming a dangerous left edge combo with Greg Marzhew that propelled the Knights to the finals, while also switching to a New South Wales jersey.
As a result, the centre, who has only one year left on his Newcastle deal, has emerged as one of the hottest commodities poised to reach the open market on November 1.
Best has been highly regarded since debuting into the NRL as a youngster in 2019, and he seems to be more than ready to realise his enormous potential in the coming seasons.
Harry Grant advocates for an enhanced NRL loan structure in the future.
Best’s 2023 season was a tale of two parts, with only one try in the first ten rounds compared to 12 in his previous 16 outings.
Best’s combination with Marzhew and Kalyn Ponga propelled the Knights from near the bottom of the list at the halfway point of the season to the top eight, routinely scoring 30 or more points during a nine-match victory run.
This sort of performance naturally garnered admiring looks from competitors, with the Wests Tigers said to be at the top of the list for his services in 2025 and beyond.
The Tigers experienced another terrible season, with Tim Sheens leaving early as head coach and Benji Marshall taking over.
The Tigers scored 20 points or more five times in 2023, although their assault frequently failed owing to a lack of striking weapons and a settled halves pairing.
Following Luke Brooks’ departure and Adam Doueihi’s continued rehabilitation from a third ACL injury, Marshall will field a new No.6 and No.7 next season, with veteran Aidan Sezer complementing the signings of Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu.
After signing a new long-term contract, Starford To’a will continue to play in the centres. However, there is a lack of depth at the position, with Asu Kepaoa expected to return in 2024.
However, former Tigers player Joel Caine has raised worry over the club’s pursuit of Best.
