BRADMAN Best could follow Knights teammate Tyson Frizell's path into representative football by playing for Wales at the Rugby League World Cup later this year.
Best, who was recently mooted by NSW coach Brad Fittler as an option for the Blues should injury rule Latrell Mitchell out for State of Origin's first game, has revealed he is open to playing for Wales in the October-November tournament.
The Central Coast product is eligible via his Welsh-born grandmother, and while his focus is first and foremost on playing well for the Knights, Best told the Newcastle Herald he would likely put his hand up for selection.
"If the opportunity come and it was the right time and the right thing to do, then I would be happy to represent that side and part of my family," Best said. "I'd consider it and definitely be open to it.
"It's obviously world-class rugby league, playing against the best of the best."
Still only 20, Best has long been earmarked to play at a higher level. He was a teenage prodigy through juniors and for many fans, burst onto the scene when he finished off a memorable length-of-the-field try playing for NSW in an under-16 Origin curtain-raiser game in 2017.
Since debuting for the Knights as an 18-year-old in 2019, Best has become an attacking weapon and one of the NRL's strike centres.
Injuries have reduced his appearances, but he has scored 14 tries in 38 games.
Before Newcastle fell into their recent form slump, NSW coach Brad Fittler labelled Best one of a handful of options to play left centre in Game 1 on June 8 should Latrell Mitchell be unavailable due to a hamstring injury.
Best said it was "nice" to know Fittler was thinking of him, but hosed down any suggestions he was in the mix, admitting his form was not where it needed to be.
"It's nice, but first and foremost I want to make my coach here proud," Best said.
"That's my job and that is in my head. I need to build more consistency. I've been hot and cold, I think."
Best has made no secret of his goal to play for NSW - twice telling the Herald in the preseason of his desire to be a Blue this year. Pressed on his chances given Mitchell is unlikely to be fit, Best said there was an opening but it was not his main focus.
"I just want to play consistent, back-to-back footy here for the Knights," he said.
"Obviously it's a goal of mine, but I just want to put my head down and rip in day-in, day-out at training.
"If it comes, it comes but I just want to put my foot down here. There's definitely an opportunity there, but I've got to play my best footy."
Given the Knights' current five-game losing streak and how some of the other potential Blues centres are playing, Best's senior representative career could be more likely to begin for international league minnow Wales.
Welsh officials have been in contact with Best and he said his family had held "some talks" about it. He also knows he only has to look across the Knights' change room to learn how playing for the country could be a representative springboard.
Tyson Frizell played his first rep footy for Wales at the 2011 Four Nations after making only his first two NRL appearances that year. He then turned out for them again at the 2013 World Cup.
"That's what Friz did, he played for the Welsh and then obviously Australia and the Blues," Best said.
"It's something I might do and ask him about to see how it all went down and how it was. It would be a pretty cool experience, I reckon."
Joining the Dragons for their World Cup campaign could also further Best's personnel development.
"Especially going into a team where I don't know any of the boys," Best said. "It would definitely help me and my game, and my confidence to see where I'm at against the international players."
Wales face Cook Islands, Tonga and Papua New Guinea in the pool matches.
