“He was just switched on and he looked like he was there to do one thing — and he did that,” Roger said. “I said just,‘make this one count. Don’t let it slip’. He did that. He ran the holes and took the gaps[from Walker].

“The whole family is so excited for him. Everyone keeps saying he was a bolter and he was this and that,but he’s worked hard.

“He’s had some big injuries that everyone seems to forget about too. The amount of work he’s had to do to get back[has been incredible]. Then there’s the kids coming through,there’s a lot of pressure to keep your spot.

“I think[Fittler’s] showed the trust in him and Braddy backed it up,it’s pretty special for both.”

Best will return to duties with Newcastle as he tried to help Adam O’Brien’s side into the finals,starting with their clash against the Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night.

Roger credited the influence of senior players such as ex-Knights David Klemmer and Mitchell Pearce as well as the Saifiti brothers for helping Bradman make his NSW debut,years after he starred for the Blues with a length of the field try in an underage match at Suncorp Stadium.

“It’s a weird feeling,” Bradman said on Thursday. “It was good to win,but it was still disappointing we didn’t win the series.”

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