Bradman Best admits the arrival of his younger brother to Newcastle will play a role in determining whether he stays at the club, but is expecting to test his value on the open market before making a call.
Best headlines a list of star centres poised to become free agents on November 1 โ if they donโt recommit beforehand โ including Latrell Mitchell, Herbie Farnworth, Matt Burton, Billy Smith, Jack Wighton, Jack Howarth and Deine Mariner.
The NSW centre has knocked back the Knightsโ initial contract extension offer, piquing the interest of several clubs, including Parramatta. While his preference is to stay put, his family will weigh heavily in his decision.
On the one hand, he has a young daughter and fiancee Kayla Fenech, the daughter of champion Australian boxer Jeff Fenech, to consider. And then thereโs the arrival of 17-year-old sibling Baxter, who has signed with the Knights after impressing in the Broncosโ pathways system.
โItโd be pretty special, obviously. Itโs a goal and obviously a dream of mine to play with my younger brother,โ Best said.
โIt would be pretty special, so hopefully if it happens, itโd be unreal. It does [figure in my thinking] a bit. Obviously, Iโll weigh everything up. I havenโt thought about it too much, but Iโve got to worry about myself. Iโve got a family now as wellโa little bub and partnerโso Iโll worry about that. But yeah, obviously, like I said, itโd be a dream to play with my brother.โ
Best could command up to $1 million per season elsewhere, but would likely have to take considerably less to stay in Newcastle.
โIโve got to put my family first, bub and partner first, and think about what we want to build as a family,โ he said.
โBut obviously, the clubโs heading in the right direction. Iโve been here my whole life and I love it here, so it would be sad to walk away. But Iโm in no rush.
โI want to do something special here, so Iโve sort of put that [contract discussion] on the backburner. It probably will go past November 1st. Iโll be in no rush and taking my time. Itโll be about footy first, and Iโve pretty much put contract talks on hold while this plays out the way it is.โ
Asked about the reported interest from the Eels, the 25-year-old said: โI guess it is good hearing that other clubs want you โ you donโt want to be coming off contract and no one wants you, but look, like I said, I donโt really worry about that. I just let my manager handle it, and heโll sort that out.โ
Best has put off a wedding date in the hope he will be called up for the Kangaroos squad for the season-ending Rugby League World Cup.
โObviously, thatโs the goal, to play for the Aussies, but thatโs also why weโre just waiting and unsure,โ he said.
โSo we donโt have a date, but we are planning on getting everything sorted slowly.โ
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