A boxer or a footy player? Either way, Knights star excited to welcome first child
Best and his partner, Kayla Fenech, are expecting their first child next January.
The couple announced the news late last week.
"It's unreal for me and my partner," Best said. "To have her by my side, and then it's very exciting to bring bub early next year. I can't wait."
Kayla is the daughter of Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech, who won several world titles through the late 1980s and early 90s.
He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and had a professional record of 29 wins, three losses and one draw.
"He can't wait, he's stoked," Best said of Jeff's reaction.
"He keeps telling me how good the genes are going to be.
"My family are very happy as well, and proud."
A star in his own right, having played 98 NRL games, two Origins and been on the cusp of representing Australia last year, Best comes from rich sporting bloodlines himself.
His father Roger Best played in the lower grades for Manly and with the London Broncos in England, while his grandfather, Peter Byrne, played a handful of games for Manly and Newtown. Bradman almost joined Manly as a teenager because of those ties.
So combined with the Fenech genes, will baby Best ultimately make their way into boxing or rugby league?
"Hopefully, if it's a boy, he can choose," Best, who has an interest in boxing himself, said.
"He'll be pretty talented I think."
Best's baby will be due just a few weeks before the Knights head to America next year for the 2026 season-opener in Las Vegas.
Still receiving plenty of congratulations late last week, Best headed to Hamilton Island over the weekend for a brief break while Newcastle's players were given some time off during this week's bye round.
But his trip was interrupted by a surprise call-up to the NSW squad.
Best was only playing his second match back from an injury spell in Newcastle's 22-18 loss to Canberra on Friday, but had scored a double in his return appearance against the Dolphins a week prior.
The 23-year-old was an incumbent heading into this year's Origin series, but a hamstring injury ruled him out of potential selection for games one and two.
Best has been named at No.20 for the Blues and isn't expected to play, but if he was a late inclusion, it would be the third consecutive year he has played in Origin III.
The Woy Woy junior made his debut in game three of the 2023 series, scoring two tries, before being recalled last year for the decider, crossing for a crucial try in the Blues' 14-4 win at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Hampered by injuries at times throughout his career, all going well, Best should make his 100th NRL appearance for the Knights at home in their match against the Warriors on Sunday, July 20.
Now in his seventh NRL season, given his representative honours, Best is fast becoming one of Newcastle's most experienced players.
With the ability to break a game open, he is embracing that responsibility as he approaches his 24th birthday in August.
"I've got to step up to that challenge and take it with both hands," he said.
"I know how much I mean to this team, so I think for me it's just trying to be in big moments and create moments.
"Going out there and doing my part."
Knights centre Bradman Best isn't sure if he will have a footy player or boxer on his hands in years to come.
Best and his partner, Kayla Fenech, are expecting their first child next January.
The couple announced the news late last week.
"It's unreal for me and my partner," Best said. "To have her by my side, and then it's very exciting to bring bub early next year. I can't wait."
Kayla is the daughter of Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech, who won several world titles through the late 1980s and early 90s.
He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and had a professional record of 29 wins, three losses and one draw.
"He can't wait, he's stoked," Best said of Jeff's reaction.
"He keeps telling me how good the genes are going to be.
"My family are very happy as well, and proud."
A star in his own right, having played 98 NRL games, two Origins and been on the cusp of representing Australia last year, Best comes from rich sporting bloodlines himself.
His father Roger Best played in the lower grades for Manly and with the London Broncos in England, while his grandfather, Peter Byrne, played a handful of games for Manly and Newtown. Bradman almost joined Manly as a teenager because of those ties.
So combined with the Fenech genes, will baby Best ultimately make their way into boxing or rugby league?
"Hopefully, if it's a boy, he can choose," Best, who has an interest in boxing himself, said.
"He'll be pretty talented I think."
Best's baby will be due just a few weeks before the Knights head to America next year for the 2026 season-opener in Las Vegas.
Still receiving plenty of congratulations late last week, Best headed to Hamilton Island over the weekend for a brief break while Newcastle's players were given some time off during this week's bye round.
But his trip was interrupted by a surprise call-up to the NSW squad.
Best was only playing his second match back from an injury spell in Newcastle's 22-18 loss to Canberra on Friday, but had scored a double in his return appearance against the Dolphins a week prior.
The 23-year-old was an incumbent heading into this year's Origin series, but a hamstring injury ruled him out of potential selection for games one and two.
Best has been named at No.20 for the Blues and isn't expected to play, but if he was a late inclusion, it would be the third consecutive year he has played in Origin III.
The Woy Woy junior made his debut in game three of the 2023 series, scoring two tries, before being recalled last year for the decider, crossing for a crucial try in the Blues' 14-4 win at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Hampered by injuries at times throughout his career, all going well, Best should make his 100th NRL appearance for the Knights at home in their match against the Warriors on Sunday, July 20.
Now in his seventh NRL season, given his representative honours, Best is fast becoming one of Newcastle's most experienced players.
With the ability to break a game open, he is embracing that responsibility as he approaches his 24th birthday in August.
"I've got to step up to that challenge and take it with both hands," he said.
"I know how much I mean to this team, so I think for me it's just trying to be in big moments and create moments.
"Going out there and doing my part."
Knights centre Bradman Best isn't sure if he will have a footy player or boxer on his hands in years to come.
Best and his partner, Kayla Fenech, are expecting their first child next January.
The couple announced the news late last week.
"It's unreal for me and my partner," Best said. "To have her by my side, and then it's very exciting to bring bub early next year. I can't wait."
Kayla is the daughter of Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech, who won several world titles through the late 1980s and early 90s.
He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and had a professional record of 29 wins, three losses and one draw.
"He can't wait, he's stoked," Best said of Jeff's reaction.
"He keeps telling me how good the genes are going to be.
"My family are very happy as well, and proud."
A star in his own right, having played 98 NRL games, two Origins and been on the cusp of representing Australia last year, Best comes from rich sporting bloodlines himself.
His father Roger Best played in the lower grades for Manly and with the London Broncos in England, while his grandfather, Peter Byrne, played a handful of games for Manly and Newtown. Bradman almost joined Manly as a teenager because of those ties.
So combined with the Fenech genes, will baby Best ultimately make their way into boxing or rugby league?
"Hopefully, if it's a boy, he can choose," Best, who has an interest in boxing himself, said.
"He'll be pretty talented I think."
Best's baby will be due just a few weeks before the Knights head to America next year for the 2026 season-opener in Las Vegas.
Still receiving plenty of congratulations late last week, Best headed to Hamilton Island over the weekend for a brief break while Newcastle's players were given some time off during this week's bye round.
But his trip was interrupted by a surprise call-up to the NSW squad.
Best was only playing his second match back from an injury spell in Newcastle's 22-18 loss to Canberra on Friday, but had scored a double in his return appearance against the Dolphins a week prior.
The 23-year-old was an incumbent heading into this year's Origin series, but a hamstring injury ruled him out of potential selection for games one and two.
Best has been named at No.20 for the Blues and isn't expected to play, but if he was a late inclusion, it would be the third consecutive year he has played in Origin III.
The Woy Woy junior made his debut in game three of the 2023 series, scoring two tries, before being recalled last year for the decider, crossing for a crucial try in the Blues' 14-4 win at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Hampered by injuries at times throughout his career, all going well, Best should make his 100th NRL appearance for the Knights at home in their match against the Warriors on Sunday, July 20.
Now in his seventh NRL season, given his representative honours, Best is fast becoming one of Newcastle's most experienced players.
With the ability to break a game open, he is embracing that responsibility as he approaches his 24th birthday in August.
"I've got to step up to that challenge and take it with both hands," he said.
"I know how much I mean to this team, so I think for me it's just trying to be in big moments and create moments.
"Going out there and doing my part."
Knights centre Bradman Best isn't sure if he will have a footy player or boxer on his hands in years to come.
Best and his partner, Kayla Fenech, are expecting their first child next January.
The couple announced the news late last week.
"It's unreal for me and my partner," Best said. "To have her by my side, and then it's very exciting to bring bub early next year. I can't wait."
Kayla is the daughter of Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech, who won several world titles through the late 1980s and early 90s.
He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and had a professional record of 29 wins, three losses and one draw.
"He can't wait, he's stoked," Best said of Jeff's reaction.
"He keeps telling me how good the genes are going to be.
"My family are very happy as well, and proud."
A star in his own right, having played 98 NRL games, two Origins and been on the cusp of representing Australia last year, Best comes from rich sporting bloodlines himself.
His father Roger Best played in the lower grades for Manly and with the London Broncos in England, while his grandfather, Peter Byrne, played a handful of games for Manly and Newtown. Bradman almost joined Manly as a teenager because of those ties.
So combined with the Fenech genes, will baby Best ultimately make their way into boxing or rugby league?
"Hopefully, if it's a boy, he can choose," Best, who has an interest in boxing himself, said.
"He'll be pretty talented I think."
Best's baby will be due just a few weeks before the Knights head to America next year for the 2026 season-opener in Las Vegas.
Still receiving plenty of congratulations late last week, Best headed to Hamilton Island over the weekend for a brief break while Newcastle's players were given some time off during this week's bye round.
But his trip was interrupted by a surprise call-up to the NSW squad.
Best was only playing his second match back from an injury spell in Newcastle's 22-18 loss to Canberra on Friday, but had scored a double in his return appearance against the Dolphins a week prior.
The 23-year-old was an incumbent heading into this year's Origin series, but a hamstring injury ruled him out of potential selection for games one and two.
Best has been named at No.20 for the Blues and isn't expected to play, but if he was a late inclusion, it would be the third consecutive year he has played in Origin III.
The Woy Woy junior made his debut in game three of the 2023 series, scoring two tries, before being recalled last year for the decider, crossing for a crucial try in the Blues' 14-4 win at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Hampered by injuries at times throughout his career, all going well, Best should make his 100th NRL appearance for the Knights at home in their match against the Warriors on Sunday, July 20.
Now in his seventh NRL season, given his representative honours, Best is fast becoming one of Newcastle's most experienced players.
With the ability to break a game open, he is embracing that responsibility as he approaches his 24th birthday in August.
"I've got to step up to that challenge and take it with both hands," he said.
"I know how much I mean to this team, so I think for me it's just trying to be in big moments and create moments.
"Going out there and doing my part."
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Kasatkina, who switched allegiances from Russia to Australia in March, shook off a nervous pre-match spew and 11 double faults to down Colombian Emiliana Arango 7-5, 6-3. 'I can tell because a lot of people saw it – five metres from the court, I vomit[ed],' Kasatkina said, laughing. 'Just as I was entering the court; a little accident happened, completely out of nerves. There was nothing else wrong with me, except this. Not having enough confidence, losing a couple of matches in a row, and playing the first match of the day ... adds a little bit to these nerves. 'I saw a few times Andy Murray did it during matches. There is, for sure, nothing to be ashamed of. It's just something you cannot control; it's not like I came into the match being drunk.' Neither the quality of opponent nor early stage of the tournament could provide enough evidence for de Minaur, or anyone watching, about whether he was back to his best, but he was satisfied. 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London is his fiancée Katie Boulter's home city, and is in relatively close proximity to his family in Alicante, Spain. As a result, his player box was more populated than a typical Australian Open for him. There was Hewitt, Gutierrez and strength-and-conditioning coach Emilio Poveda Pagan, plus his mother Esther, siblings Daniel, Sara and Cristina (known as 'Cuki'), agent John Morris and 72 Sports Group colleague Borja del Castillo, 'mum-ager' Kathryn Oyeniyi, Boulter's mother Sue, and Esther's Australian friends Lee and Sergio. Lee and Sergio are travelling across Europe supporting de Minaur. Boulter, who upset ninth seed Paula Badosa on Monday, occupied a different courtside spot, tucked under a Wimbledon-branded umbrella to shade herself from the unusually hot English weather. 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He'll be the one feeling the pressure,' Vukic said of Sinner, who is hunting a maiden Wimbledon title. 'If there's a surface to play him on, it's probably this one because it is a bit more random, so more upsets can happen. Hopefully, I can be one of those.' It was a tougher day for Walton, Eastbourne champion Maya Joint and qualifiers Priscilla Hon, James McCabe and Alex Bolt, who all fell at the first hurdle. Russian 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova ousted Hon 6-2, 7-5, and her 19th-seeded countrywoman Liudmila Samsonova eliminated 19-year-old Joint 6-3, 6-2, while Fabian Marozsan spoiled McCabe's All England Club debut in a 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 result. American 10th seed Ben Shelton pipped fellow left-hander Bolt 6-4, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-4), and next faces Hijikata, whose win over Goffin was just his sixth from 20 tour matches this year. Joint, who climbed 10 spots to a career-high No.41 after her Eastbourne triumph, has lost in the first round at her past two grand slams after winning titles leading into both. The teenage rising star hopes to be seeded by the time she contests her next major at the US Open in late August, to avoid such perilous first-up opponents as the powerful Samsonova. 'It was a lot different than the last time [I won a title before Roland-Garros] when I was coming from Morocco, going to Paris,' Joint said. 'I just had to take a two-hour car ride, and then I had an extra day to prepare, which was good this time. I expected to do a little bit better, but Liudmila played really well today.' McCabe found himself stuck in traffic on the journey from nearby Earls Court, and was half an hour later arriving at Wimbledon than he planned – and it did not get any better once his match started. 'It was definitely a lesson learned, but I'm just grateful for the experience,' McCabe said. 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