Bradman Best reveals how nervous he is about his contract situation and his intensions to give the Newcastle Knights the first crack at him, Parramatta Eels, Dragons, Kangaroos, loyal, free agent, November 1

New parents often have to deal with sleepless nights, but for Bradman Best, they’re only going to become more frequent as he prepares to make a life-changing decision.

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Best entered the open market on November 1 and there’s going to be a battle for his services between his current club Newcastle and the likes of Parramatta and St George Illawarra.

From what’s been speculated, the equation is simple – stay at Newcastle or head to the Eels, or possibly the Dragons, for about $200,000 a year more.

It’s simple to explain, but doesn’t mean it’s not keeping the Australian centre up at night.

“Sleepless nights are definitely on the cards,” Best told Foxsports.com.au while in Kangaroos camp on Monday.

“I mean, it’s a good position we’re in, but it’s also nerve-racking at the same time. There’s going to be challenging and tough conversations ahead.

“There’s that much speculation going around, so to take the edge off we’re all just having a laugh, having a joke, but in all seriousness all the boys and myself had a big year.”

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Despite reports suggesting that Best is all but a done deal with the Eels, he refuted that this week.

“I haven’t made a decision yet and I’m in no rush to make a decision,” he said.

“I want to sit down and properly discuss my future.

“I’m a father now so we’ll sit down in due time and make a decision about what we feel is best for myself and the family.”

Best is engaged to Kayla Fenech, the daughter of Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech, and they have a daughter, Kaliyah, who was born last December.

He said talk of him leaving the Knights for the Eels was “all speculation” but acknowledged the silly season the game’s currently in with all the free agents who are able to negotiate with rival clubs.

“It’s all full on and November 1 is a crazy time. It’s hard seeing everything come out in the media, that’s their job but it’s a crazy time,” Best said.

“I’m lucky I’ve got good people around me and I just don’t want to make a decision out of emotion, but still want to do what’s best for us as a family.”

So are the Knights no chance of retaining him?

Best has denied that Newcastle had offered him a $1 million a season deal to stay.

The only offer to date has been for around $800,000 a year which will be less than what the Eels are prepared to pay him.

But he wants to give his junior club every possible chance to keep him as the Knights sit on the verge of a golden era following this year’s charge to the grand final without several star players.

“I want to be loyal to Newcastle. I want to sit down with the coach. I’ve got a lot of respect for Justin (Holbrook) and what he’s done for not only myself but the club this year,” Best said.

“He really turned it around in 12 months and I’ve been through a lot of hard times here at Newcastle.

“There were some embarrassing days with wooden spoons, but to see the club where it is now and where it’s going, I definitely give Newcastle the first crack at it (contract offer).

“My loyalties are to them and I’ve been loyal to them for my whole career.”

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What Best wants to avoid is a similar situation to what Jack Wighton found himself in after leaving the Raiders at the end of 2023.

He left his junior club to go to Souths to pursue an elusive premiership.

But he had to watch his old club go on to claim the minor premiership in 2025 while Souths missed the finals.

Best opened up about how difficult it would be to leave the Knights then watch them win a premiership while he was off at another club,

“I’m nervous, obviously, about my decision,” Best said.

“It’s challenging because you can’t pick it either. Like, we got the wooden spoon and then we’re in the grand final. No-one would have thought of that.”

Best’s value could rise even further if he plays well for Australia and wins a World Cup in a little over a week’s time.

He will line up in the centres on Sunday for the semi-finals against Samoa.

He’s beaten superstar Latrell Mitchell to the centre spot and couldn’t be prouder to wear the Kangaroos jersey.

“I took a moment there just to look at the jersey itself,” he said.

“I dreamt of it from a little young kid, so I’m very proud and appreciative, but also now I’m here, I’ve got to sort of snap out of it and understand that we’ve got a job to do and you’re representing a country.

“We have a job to do and that’s to win.”