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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Bradman Best, when his footballing commitments allow, will begin attending acting lessons.<\/p>\n The NSW centre, called into the team for the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium, has scored a role in the upcoming biopic movie FENECH \u2013 The Jeff Fenech Story.<\/p>\n Best has been cast as former Australian boxing world champion Jeff \u201cThe Hitman\u201d Harding, a sparring partner for Fenech in the flick directed by award-winning local filmmaker Matt Norman.<\/p>\n For Best, the unexpected part is a family affair \u2013 he is engaged to Fenech\u2019s daughter Kayla, with the \u201cMarrickville Mauler\u201d set to become his father-in-law.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty exciting. This is all new to me, a bit of acting,\u201d Best said. \u201cWe had a dinner catch-up with the director maybe two months ago. He informed me that I need to start acting lessons, so we will see how that goes. Filming will probably start in my off-season. My part isn\u2019t too hectic; I\u2019m just the sparring partner. So whether I\u2019m getting my head punched or I\u2019m punching, I don\u2019t know. It will be cool.\u201d<\/p>\n When Kayla started going out with Best, Fenech was apoplectic. The boxing hall-of-famer didn\u2019t want his daughter going out with a footballer, but the Newcastle Knights star quickly won him over.<\/p>\n \u201cMy daughter is the happiest person in the world and that\u2019s all that matters,\u201d Fenech said. \u201cWe are so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Playing a boxer won\u2019t be a stretch for Best. The 24-year-old has done plenty of pad work with Fenech, who is convinced he would have no trouble beating giant footballer-turned-boxer Nelson Asofa-Solomona if they squared off in the ring.<\/p>\n \u201cHe would beat Nelson tomorrow,\u201d Fenech said. \u201cHe is a natural athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n Such a bout isn\u2019t as far-fetched as it sounds. Best has shown aptitude with the gloves and is considering a boxing debut one day.<\/p>\n \u201cDefinitely, I have a lot of respect for boxers,\u201d Best said. \u201cNow Jeff is the father-in-law, so it\u2019s pretty cool. I think hopefully one day down the track, I will step in there.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if he wanted to call out anyone from the Queensland team as his first opponent, Best chuckled: \u201cNah, no one.\u201d<\/p>\n When he runs onto Suncorp Stadium in Wednesday night\u2019s decider, it will be Best\u2019s third appearance in the sky blue jersey. However, he would have been a Maroon if his father had his way. The majority of the Best family still lives in Ipswich and dad Roger wanted his boy to represent Queensland, despite him being born in Manly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was growing up watching Origin, it was when they were winning eight in a row,\u201d Best said.<\/p>\n \u201cDad was definitely trying to brainwash me, but I came to my senses and knew what Origin was about. I remember when you\u2019re about to sign your contract, you have to do your eligibility. I had to choose between Queensland or NSW, and I chose NSW. It was an easy option.\u201d<\/p>\n Even Best\u2019s christian name has a Blues tie-in. Most people think he\u2019s named after legendary cricketer Don Bradman, but NSW team performance manager Frank Ponissi provided the inspiration.<\/p>\n \u201cMy Nan and Pop used to own a hair salon in Manly back in the day,\u201d Best explained.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cMy mum and dad didn\u2019t have a name for me at the time. The story was that Frank Ponissi was in the salon chatting away with my Pa – they are still good friends – when Frank said \u2018We\u2019ve got a good name [for a child], but we\u2019re not having a boy.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cMy Pa asked what the name was, and he said Bradman. Pa got a hold of it, rang my mum, and mum and dad loved it. That\u2019s how I got named.\u201d<\/p>\n And there could soon be another member of the family making their name at the Knights. Best\u2019s 17-year-old brother Baxter, also an outside back, is about to join him at the NRL club. The younger Best is overcoming a shoulder reconstruction, but the siblings are hoping to play first grade together.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s taller than me,\u201d Best said. \u201cHe\u2019s got all the skill and ability. Hopefully he can pull it all together and make a name for himself. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the goals, one of the dreams, to play with my little brother. Hopefully it happens.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"NSW](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/174250176bd2ae309dd9a12ab057395b989cde8d.jpeg\")
NSW Blues centre Bradman Best.Janie Barrett<\/p>\n![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/db2c2b12e44d88c6020e07e1838b044b92f75b59.jpeg\")
Australian boxing champion Jeff Harding.AP<\/p>\n![\"Bradman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/415fc92b6dc10519bda0bdbab969c5b09c1e6f46.jpeg\")
Bradman Best\u2019s soon-to-be father-in-law, Jeff Fenech.Janie Barrett<\/p>\n![\"Shaun](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783197443_459_7c39e2a00ade8aede27bb3b3b48cc88c212a3a7b.jpeg\")
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