The NSW Blues gave their squad a shake-up ahead of State of Origin Game 3 as they managed to avoid the dreaded whitewash against the Queensland Maroons.
One of the players brought in was Bradman Best, who made his Origin debut at Accor Stadium.
The Sporting News takes a closer look at the young centre.
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Who is Bradman Best? Age, club, position of NSW Blues Origin debutant
Despite his young age, Best has already built quite a solid rugby league résumé.
Born on the NSW's Central Coast, the 21-year-old played his junior footy for the Woy Woy Roosters before signing with the Newcastle Knights.
Best's first NRL game came late during the 2019 season, where he became the second-youngest debutant in Knights history.
He gradually began to make more appearances for Newcastle, featuring in 11 games the following campaign.
By 2021, the centre became a regular starter in the Hunter, offering physicality at both ends of the field.
Unfortunately, injuries have frustrated Best throughout his career, missing chunks of action in recent years due to elbow and shoulder problems.
This season, however, he has been a reliable figure for the Knights, playing 16 games already.
At 103 kilograms, Best's size and strength are key facets of his game, and the Blues used that aggression to steer them to a win over Queensland in the final Origin match of 2023.
He bagged two tries in a memorable debut, forming a deadly left-edge combination with Cody Walker and Josh Addo-Carr.
Wednesday night wasn't technically Best's first time in a New South Wales jersey though, having represented his state at under-16s and 18s levels as a junior.
Bradman Best 2023 NRL stats
| Games | 16 |
| Tries | 8 |
| Try Assists | 10 |
| Tackle breaks | 40 |
| Avg. Run Metres | 142 |
| Avg. Tackles | 13 |
| Tackle Efficiency | 88.9% |
NSW Blues Origin team: Game 3
Blues coach Brad Fittler made some notable changes from the NSW side dismantled at Suncorp Stadium in Game 2.
Best and Koloamatangi made their debuts, while the likes of Cody Walker and Reagan Campbell-Gillard were recalled.
NSW confirmed team
1. James Tedesco (c)
2. Brian To'o
3. Bradman Best
4. Stephen Crichton
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Cody Walker
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Jake Trbojevic
9. Damien Cook
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11. Liam Martin
12. Keaon Koloamatangi
13. Cameron Murray
14. Isaah Yeo
15. Jacob Saifiti
16. Reece Robson
17. Clint Gutherson
18th man: Scott Drinkwater
19th man: Spencer Leniu
