Bradman Best will have barely turned 20 next season when he's eligible to start talking to other NRL clubs.
What he's shown for the Knights this season in just 11 games – despite losing eight weeks to a serious ankle injury – means there's bound to be suitors.
During Sunday's 46-20 loss to the Rabbitohs, Best's effort in scoring the Knights second try demanded attention.
He loomed in support off a Lachlan Fitzgibbon break and accelerated over the final 30 metres to outstrip Corey Allen.
In the Channel Nine commentary, Immortal Andrew Johns said: "Bradman Best – what a wonderful young talent. Sign him up for life."
The 19 -year-old is one of the young guns coach Adam O'Brien will lean on to keep the Knights in the top eight for 2021 and beyond.
Best, like O'Brien, is off contract in 2022 and it wouldn't surprise if both aren't extended well before their due date.
Knights' top five tries of 2020
As for Best, who exudes speed and strength in that 103kg frame, he's not interested in plying his trade elsewhere. He was born just down the road at Gosford and is a Wyong Roos junior.
"This is definitely home. I want to do whatever I can for this club, as they've done a lot for me," Best told NRL.com.
"I want to pay them back any way I can by playing good, consistent footy and helping bring more success here."
He's already turned heads with his nine tries in 14 games since making his debut in 2019. He averages more than 150 metres and three tackle breaks per game.
He played in his first NRL final last weekend and while he said the loss was "very tough, hurts a lot" on the flip side it has lit a spark.
"You do all that hard work and you don't get what you want. But I'm ready to go again next year," Best said.
"To win a premiership here is the goal…. I grew up playing footy and you sacrifice a lot but the goal hasn't changed.
"We've got a great bunch of young guys here – a lot of talent and we're always challenging each other to be our best selves and best players.
"We'll definitely get better. We'll all be ripping in in pre-season.
"On the one hand it's tough to take. That just wasn't us. But it also definitely gives me a fire in my belly to go out and do better next year."
O'Brien reflects on his first season in charge
Retiring Test and Origin forward Aidan Guerra singled out Best, along with Starford To'a and Tex Hoy, as the green shoots to keep the club in the premiership frame.
"I'm excited for them in the future but I'm not going to put a time frame on it," Guerra said when asked about the club's prospects of breaking a 19-year title drought.
"There are some exciting young players here who looked like first-graders from their very first game and Bradman is one of them.
"It's hard to project the way they're going to grow… but they've got the right man leading them in Adam O'Brien. He's going to get the best out of this group."