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
Best is not worth a million dollars a season to Parra. His a very good centre but his not champion.
Well, if best stays with newy, gives us more cash to go for bostock or herbie i guess
Herbie I doubt we get unless we offer 20% more than most teams. Bostock is more likely going to Cronulla or Saints before Best even makes his call.
With all the talk / rumours around at the moment I don't see us as seriously in the running for Herbie or Bostock. And as the days go on I'm getting less and less certain about our chances with Best. I know the Knights have a cap squeeze but losing Best will be very problematic for them and they're definitely going to do all they can to keep him.
I think there's a somewhat fair chance we don't get any of them.
Losing Best is not good for Newcastle, but losing either McEwan or Manulelelua is more disastrous. With talk that Sharpe could move to Centre and Toby Winter being a star junior, they can cover for him in the future for cheaper.
Though Best seems to really want to stay but also is looking at the highest bidder. He will give Newcastle every chance to match whatever we offer.
I reckon we get none of them and get blaze talagi. We have some good juniors coming through i reckon we just keep them and build around them
I think your right and we end up with blaize talagi
gives us nothing Doza. He won't be a player till mid season and probably take a season to be right anyway.
I asume if we got Burton, he would be released straight away....he offers more to the team than these other blokes.
How much are the bears offering burton?
Get him as the Centre we are looking for? Maybe.
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