'I had to look in the mirror': How setback spurred Best to Origin dream

Blues rookie Bradman Best has been touted for Origin honours since his teens but the Knights centre admitted it took a change in attitude after an off-field incident last season for him to fulfil those expectations.

Best was arguably one of the best players in his age group as he came through the junior ranks, starring for NSW under 16s and 18s, along with the 2018 Australian Schoolboys.

NSW mentor Brad Fittler coached a 15-year-old Best in the state’s under 16s team and has been monitoring his development in the belief he would eventually play Origin.

However, the now 21-year-old was never on the selection radar until disciplinary action by the Knights last season after he missed the team bus prompted him to review his approach to the game.

“I had to look myself in the mirror,” Best said. “I had to step up my game. I had to live up to these standards and expectations, and I knew I had to start somewhere.

“I just changed my mentality to be the best version of me. I wasn't happy with how I played last year, and I felt like I let the boys down.

“I never wanted to feel that way again, so I made sure I trained really hard in the pre-season and just looked after myself off the field.”

Best said the turning point had been when he and team-mate Enari Tuala were stood down by the Knights after missing the team bus for the club’s Round 21 match against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien and director of football Peter Parr let him know he needed to mend his ways and Best responded, scoring eight tries in 11 matches this season, while producing 10 try assists and 40 tackle breaks.

“That's where it started. That’s when I sort of said, ‘it's not good enough’,” Best said. “I expect more of myself and I let the team and the club down, and the boys.

“I had a had a few honest conversations with the coach and Peter Parr, and with myself. That was probably the best thing.

“Talent can only take you so far, the rest is hard work and you’ve got to do it yourself so that was sort of the way I was looking at it.”

“It was the back end of the year so I knew pre-season was rolling around and I knew I had to keep my head down and train hard."

Despite scoring a hat-trick of tries against the Bulldogs in last Sunday's 66-0 win at Accor Stadium, Best did not consider he had any chance of being selected for Origin and ignored a call from Fittler after the game.

"He rang on Sunday night and I didn't answer and then on Monday morning the same number come through so I thought I had better answer it and it was Freddy," Best said.

“I hadn’t thought about it, so it came by surprise. I was shocked but once I heard the news it was such a surreal feeling. I was just full of excitement, over the moon and I just couldn’t wait to come into camp.

“I’ve come through the junior reps in NSW and I was lucky enough that Freddy gave me that opportunity [in under 16s] and he's given it to me now, so it's pretty special."

Fittler said he had always believed the powerfully built Best had the ability to play for NSW and injuries to Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic and Campbell Graham had opened the door for his selection in Origin III at Accor Stadium next Wednesday.

“I thought it was a nice time, given what happened on the weekend," Fittler said. "When the Knights are playing good he has always been a big part of why they are winning, and I think everyone has seen the potential. 

“I have been coaching him for a long time and I have been disappointed in him sometimes but I have always been watching him because he is fast and powerful, and not everyone is like that.

“I think the time just fell for him. There have been a lot of injuries in the centres – three centres have fallen over – so he is next. He’s someone I always thought would end up being a State of Origin player and here’s his opportunity."