Knights winger Edrick Lee has praised the work ethic and attitude to improvement of boom centre Bradman Best, who is in the sights of NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler.
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Lee and Best have formed a dynamic left-side combination this year, scoring five times each to sit equal second on the NRL tries list.
Fittler has been impressed with the rapid development of 18-year-old Best as he scouts talent for the November State of Origin series.
"Two weeks ago he had an opportunity to win the game when he came down the left-hand side and he had a pass to Edrick Lee that went behind him," Fittler told nswrl.com. "He had the same opportunity the following week and he went down and nailed the pass, so not only has he got the talent but he also learns.
"With another 18 or 20 weeks, or however far Newcastle go into the competition, you've got to think if he's learning along the way he's only going to get better.
"That's a pretty nice thing for a coach in my position."
Lee echoed those sentiments on Monday when asked about Best.
"He's just a really good kid," Lee said. "He's real humble and his work ethic is really high and he's also very absorbent to advice. If you give him advice and little tips here and there, he definitely applies it."
Fittler, who coached Best at junior Blues level, said the teenager was headed in the right direction for Origin.
"He was pretty much the best player as a kid coming through, he was fast and strong and he's a beach sprint champion," he said.
"They don't always turn into first graders, and they don't always turn into players that play 200 games, and they don't always turn into players that play State of Origin, but it looks like Bradman Best is putting the right foot forward."
Lee, meanwhile, was hoping to continue using his height at kicks to benefit from a rule change this season when Newcastle play Brisbane on Thursday. The rule prohibits players being tackled in mid-air once they have the ball.
"It's just been a real advantage," he said. "Obviously with the new rule change it's probably something that we're looking to put in our arsenal for our for last [tackle] options. I'm trying to make the most of it.
"It will be a good challenge this week up against their winger who's been doing the same."
Meanwhile, referees' boss Graham Annesley said on Monday that a decision to penalise Knights prop David Klemmer for illegal contact in Saturday night's loss to Melbourne was incorrect. The 75th-minute penalty goal extended the Storm's lead to eight points.
