Bradman Best trains with the Knights

Woy Woy Roosters Rugby League player Bradman Best has trained with the Knights NRL squad this month, despite being underage.

Scouted by the Knights as a young teen, the Knights made good on a promise to give the 17-year-old centre a taste of the NRL.

"It was unbelievable," said Bradman.

"I was really nervous coming in," he said.

"Some of them even knew my name.

"It was pretty special to get that opportunity," he said.

Bradman started playing for Woy Woy at the age of 10.

A centre with size and strength beyond his years, the Knights first took note of Best's potential at age 13 and they've been keeping an eye on him since.

"He was always an exciting junior," said Knights player list manager Mr Troy Pezet.

"Scott Dureau's decision to shift Bradman from the forwards to fullback at age 15 to enhance his skill, communication and game awareness has proved a real winner in Bradman's development," he added.

It didn't take the centre long before he progressed through the grades and earned representative selection.

"I've played a bit of rep footy," Bradman said.

"I played a year young for the Harold Matthews Cup.

"I played Harold Matthews again at my own age and played in the 2017 Origin and we won that.

"A year later, I played SG Ball Cup a year young and made the Origin team a year young there.

"This year I've been selected for the Australian Schoolboys team to play in England," Best said.

While Bradman was already contracted beyond next season, the youngster is one of a host of emerging talents to extend his deal.

He's still eligible for SG Ball but is likely to feature heavily in the Jersey Flegg side in 2019.

Bradman follows in his father's footsteps.

Roger was an Australian Schoolboy who later played for Manly and the London Broncos.

SOURCE:

Media release, 12 Nov 2018

Nathan Brown, Newcastle Knights