There’s been no shortage of interest in our boys this week.
The nib Newcastle Knights attracted plenty of media attention and we’ve pulled together some of it in case you missed it.
The incredible story behind 'Bradman'
It’s unarguably the best name currently going around in rugby league.
Even more remarkable is where it came from.
Contrary to popular belief, Best was not named after the cricketer who will forever go down as the greatest of all time.
Instead, it was the current Melbourne Storm football manager Frank Ponissi who provided the inspiration for Best’s parents.
The man himself opened up to The Daily Telegraph’s Nick Walshaw about the fascinating story regarding his iconic name.
“I’m not sure exactly how it happened but my pop, who still owns a barber shop today, was cutting Frank Ponissi’s hair when the conversation turned to how my parents were expecting -- and how they still hadn’t come up with a name.
“Apparently Frank’s partner, she was expecting too. And he told pop ‘if we have a boy, we’re going to name him Bradman’.
“So, pop got straight on the phone to mum,” Best laughs, “and said ‘I’ve got you your name’.”
Ponga picked up by local strong-woman
It’s definitely not one you see every day.
Kalyn Ponga was on his way to lunch last week when a local woman approached him, and rather than ask for a photo or autograph, she had just one question.
The woman just so happened to be Rebekah Chessum, the 20th strongest woman in the world.
"I just said, 'I'm one of the strongest women in the country. Do you mind if I get a picture lifting you up?' He sort of giggled and said, 'Are you having me on?'," Rebekah told The Newcastle Herald.
"I said, 'No I'm being serious' and he goes, 'OK, yep sure'."
Mann’s 2020 focus
Christmas and New Years are traditionally a great time to reflect on the year that was.
For Kurt Mann, he’s only focused on one thing. Moving forward.
His eyes are focused on the prized No.6 jersey, unarguably the most hotly contested position on the Knights roster at the moment.
Mann is battling for the five-eighth position alongside young-gun Phoenix Crossland, incumbent Mason Lino and utility Connor Watson.
Talking to Newcastle Herald journalist Josh Callinan in between taking photos with fans and Santa Claus at Westfield Kotara, Mann admitted the No.6 goal has made his pre-season all the more rewarding.
"It makes things a whole lot clearer for me," Mann said.
"He [Knights coach Adam O'Brien] has given me three things to work on and if I work on those it'll give me my best chance of getting that position.
"It's been really challenging."
