He's one of the early favourites for Dally M rookie of the year and, after just seven NRL games, has already been widely touted as a potential NSW Blues Origin bolter at the end of the season.
But the challenges keep coming for teenage Newcastle Knights centre Bradman Best, who will confront another of the game's best young centre prospects in Manly's Moses Suli at Brookvale on Sunday in what is shaping as a real "battle of the beasts".
While the clash up front between props David Klemmer and Addin Fonua-Blake has understandably attracted the headlines this week and been billed as the main event because of their history, Best and Suli will also be centre stage in a mouth-watering match-up of two young powerhouses who are expected to go at each other like wounded bulls for 80 minutes.
The more experienced Suli 22, has already made 58 appearances in the top grade after debuting for the Wests Tigers back in 2017 when he was 18.
The 109-kilogram right centre has made a home for himself at the Sea Eagles under coach Des Hasler, after disciplinary issues saw him depart the Tigers after 16 NRL games and the Bulldogs after lasting just one month.
Hasler has found the secret to getting Suli's off-field issues under control and he has been a real attacking force for Manly over the past few seasons and is only getting better.
But while Best will give away a six-kilogram advantage to his older rival, he will relish the opportunity to test himself against a high quality opponent after missing his side's last-start loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville due to being stood down for a COVID-19 breach.
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He'll also be looking to add to his tally of six tries in seven games in his first appearance in the top grade at Brookvale, where his father Roger and grandfather Peter Byrne both played for Manly.
His combination with fullback Kalyn Ponga and his winger Edrick Lee has been a productive one for the Knights already this season and Suli can be expected to have to make plenty of defensive decisions down his edge on Sunday.
Klemmer said Best is itching to get back on the field.
"He was pretty disappointed to miss the Cowboys game but the week off probably helped him get over a few niggles and he'll be raring to go," Klemmer said.
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