Newcastle could lose one of the NRL’s most damaging centres after Bradman Best reportedly rejected the club’s opening contract extension offer.
Best remains contracted to the Knights until the end of 2027, meaning he cannot formally negotiate with rival clubs until November 1, 2026.
However, Newcastle now faces a critical retention battle after the 25-year-old reportedly declined its initial proposal and indicated he is prepared to test his value on the open market.
There is no suggestion Best has agreed to join another club. Rival teams have also not been publicly confirmed as having tabled offers, making any potential destinations speculative at this stage.
That could change quickly once November arrives.
Best Could Become the NRL’s Most Wanted Centre
Best has developed into one of Newcastle’s most important attacking weapons since making his NRL debut as an 18-year-old in 2019.
The powerful left centre has scored 47 tries across his first 117 appearances for the Knights and has represented New South Wales at State of Origin level.
In 2026, Best has averaged approximately 139 running metres while producing 14 try assists from 12 appearances. Injuries have limited his availability, but his combination of speed, strength and ball-playing ability remains rare among NRL centres.
A recent Zero Tackle analysis of Bradman Best’s potential destinations identified six possible options should he leave Newcastle after the 2027 season.
The Knights remain one of those options and are still considered capable of improving their offer before Best reaches the open market.
But once rival clubs are permitted to negotiate, Newcastle will lose the advantage of being the only team able to place a contract in front of him.
Newcastle Cannot Afford to Lose Him
The Knights have already committed significant salary-cap space to several leading players.
Dylan Brown joined Newcastle on a 10-year contract running until the end of 2035, reportedly worth approximately $13 million. Kalyn Ponga is also one of the highest-paid players in the competition, while Fletcher Sharpe and Dylan Lucas form part of the club’s long-term plans.
Those commitments mean Newcastle cannot simply offer Best unlimited money.
The club must also manage the futures of the other players across its outside backs, although Greg Marzhew has already signed an extension through to the end of 2029.
Best’s injury history may also influence the value and structure of Newcastle’s offer. He has delivered elite performances when available but has missed significant periods during several seasons.
Even so, allowing him to leave would remove one of the most dangerous components of Newcastle’s attack.
Best gives Ponga and Brown a powerful target on the edge, while his partnership with Marzhew has developed into one of the competition’s most destructive centre-wing combinations.
Replacing that combination would be extremely difficult.
Expansion Clubs Could Drive Up His Price
The arrival of the Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs will place additional pressure on established clubs trying to retain star players for 2028.
Both expansion teams will need recognisable representative players capable of becoming central figures in their inaugural rosters. A New South Wales centre entering the prime of his career would naturally command attention.
However, neither expansion club has been confirmed as having approached Best, and they cannot formally negotiate with him before November 1.
Other established clubs could also enter the race if they have the required salary-cap space and a need for an elite centre.
Best would improve almost any NRL backline, but interested clubs would need to justify spending heavily on a centre when much of the competition’s largest contracts are traditionally reserved for fullbacks, halves and middle forwards.
That financial calculation could ultimately work in Newcastle’s favour.
Testing the Market Does Not Guarantee an Exit
Rejecting an opening extension offer does not necessarily mean Best wants to leave the Knights.
Players regularly turn down initial proposals before negotiations continue, particularly when they are approaching their first genuine opportunity to test the open market as an established representative star.
Best is a Central Coast junior who has progressed through Newcastle’s pathways system and spent his entire professional career with the club.
When the Knights announced his previous three-year extension in 2024, director of football Peter Parr said the club expected Best to remain an important part of its future.
“We are delighted Bradman has re-committed to the Knights,” Parr said.
“Bradman had a wonderful season in 2023 and at his age there is no doubt he will continue to grow and improve.”
That development has continued, increasing both his importance to Newcastle and his potential market value.
Knights Must Act Before November
Newcastle still has more than two months of exclusive negotiating time before rival clubs can formally make their pitches.
The smartest outcome would be an improved offer that rewards Best appropriately without destabilising the Knights’ salary cap.
Allowing negotiations to drift beyond November 1 would invite expansion clubs and premiership contenders to turn a manageable retention discussion into a genuine bidding war.
Newcastle has already invested heavily in Brown and Ponga to create an attack capable of challenging for a premiership.
Losing Best before that combination reaches its full potential would undermine the entire plan.
The Knights remain favourites to retain their homegrown centre, but rejecting their opening offer has created uncertainty that rival clubs will be eager to exploit.
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