Bradman Best has been left baffled by a leaked contract offer from the Newcastle Knights, with the Australian centre revealing he was never given a monster deal from the club.
Whispers around Best future have refused to go away over the last month, but it looked as though Newcastle were the odds-on favourite to retain their centre after it was said they had tabled him a four-year, $4 million deal last week.
The alleged deal making him one of the highest paid centres in the game and an offer which would help keep Best at the club, if he had seen it.
“That hasn’t been the case,” Best said.
“I don’t know where that offer came from. I don’t know who leaked it, but it’s not the case.
“I never received the deal which has been put out, and I don’t know how that figure has been put out.
“At the moment, it’s just all talk.”
Best, a Newcastle junior, is keen to extend his stay in the regional NSW town, with the club building towards a premiership with their plethora of young talent.
His younger brother Baxter is another factor after the club locked him down on a long term deal.
But most of all, Best wants to stay loyal if the club is willing to pay him what he’s worth.
“Obviously, I want to give Newcastle the chance,” Best said.
“I’m loyal to them, I love Justin (Holbrook), the coaches there, and the club, so I’d love to sit down with them first and obviously discuss my future.”
It is understood the Knights have not moved off their initial offer to Best which sits around $800,000-a-season, which is unders on what the star would command on the open market.
It comes as the Eels prepare to make Best a massive offer of their own which could make him the highest paid centre in the game.
Best has been allowed to negotiate with rival clubs since November 1, and is understood to have multiple meetings awaiting him once he leaves Kangaroos camp in the next two weeks.
The Australian centre is not bothered by the noise or leaks which are currently surrounding his future.
“I understand it’s all speculation, and the media are going to blow things up and do their thing, so at the end of the day, it is what it is.”
“Only we know what’s actually going on, so I guess it’s all good, doesn’t bother me.”
Part of Best’s decision to test his value is his young family, with fiancee Kayla Fenech and young daughter Kaliyah at the front of mind.
For now, Best is locked into his World Cup campaign, where his excellent club form has led to the 25-year-old earning his centre jersey for his country.
Best will now get the opportunity to take on some of his Newcastle teammates for the first time in his career.
Despite coming up against each other in the semi finals, Best refuses to cut off the young players he’s helped edge into first grade, supporting them by watching all their games in the lead up to Sunday’s must win clash against Samoa.
“I’ve been chatting to them throughout,” Best said of his relationship with Francis Manuleleua and Jermain McEwen.
“They’ve been playing some unreal footy and they were unreal against Tonga
“I can’t wait, it’s going to be mad. These boys are repping out for their country and culture, and you know, we’ll do the same.
“It’s an exciting challenge and I’ve got a lot of love for them boys, the young lads.”
Replies
Peter o'sullivan possibly spreading the rumour after what best said about him.
Knights offer is full of clauses and all the fake contract incentives. Not a true deal lol. Best to eels soon
Clearly he doesn't want to leave, so Eels will need to do what Knights did with Dylan Brown. Make him an offer he can't refuse.
It is hard to think he stays at Knights after speaking publicly about this. Seems he is frustrated. Time will tell.
The knights have enough outside back talent that they can let best go and spend money elsewhere, they have allot of upgrades you would imagine after making GF.
I really hope best is an eels come round 1. We can really make a shot at top 4 imo. And wouldn't it be cool to have a parra vs knight GF and best scores winning try....ok unicorn hat off now
Simple the knights can't afford him, what happens when you spend 1.4 on brown and 1.5 on ponga
More likely, post WC, he will properly sit with Parramatta. He will get their offer, go back to Newcastle and say "This is what i have been offered, what is the best you can do". That is fair to do. Now whether they get close to what we do is another story.
Jack is right, Newcastle more likely cannot afford him. They are adding clauses to be somewhat competitive to offers, but their only hope really is Baxter and the narrative of this team could win a comp soon possibly.
Parramatta should put a deadline. Sign or p off. If this goes on for another 4 months, we could miss out on other players