Truth behind NRL interview drama as Knights gun responds

Knights centre Bradman Best has responded to the swirling drama surrounding his interview with a Channel 9 star.

Bradman Best leaned in. Photo: YouTube, NRL on Nine.

Knights star Bradman Best has given a response to his football club after a storm erupted surrounding his live TV interview with NRLW star Millie Elliott.

The NSW State of Origin star leaned in for a kiss with Elliott when their on-camera chat inside the Knights’ dressing room was coming to an end on Friday night.

Best appeared to get his signals wrong as Elliott moved on to speak with other Knights players during a live segment on Channel 9 following the Knights’ big win over the Dragons at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Elliott, who also works as a sideline commentator with Channel 9, last year jumped ship from the Knights to the Roosters as a massive signing coup for the Sydney club.

She is friends with many of the Knights players and got married to Knights forward Adam Elliott in October.

Best was a guest at their wedding and is particularly close friends with Adam Elliott.

Best regularly hangs out with the couple and on Tuesday the two Knights teammates posted photos from the same beachside location at the same time — suggesting they were again enjoying each other’s company away from the footy field.

It’s why Best has laughed off the drama that has surrounded the Friday night interview, according to the Newcastle Knights.

It started out with a kiss. How did it end up like this? Photo: YouTube, NRL on Nine.

Bradman Best leaned in. Photo: YouTube, NRL on Nine.

Bradman Best laughed it off. Photo: YouTube, NRL on Nine.

The NRL club has made it clear Best’s only concern is the potential for some fans to view the interaction as a negative reflection of Elliott’s professionalism with the microphone.

The 25-year-old was invited into the Knights’ dressing room for a roaming interview segment which all NRL clubs agree to under the TV broadcasting guidelines with Channel 9.

Elliott’s job was made more difficult because of the steamy conditions inside the Knights’ sheds with many players desperate for hot showers after the game that was played in cyclonic conditions that left the field a water-logged mess.

Best was seen wearing a towel as Elliott walked into the room. The Knights have stressed Best had clothes on underneath the towel and was simply caught up by Elliott on his way to a recovery session in another section of the dressing room.

The Knights play the Roosters on Thursday night in Newcastle and it remains unclear if Channel 9 will have Elliott perform the role of interviewing players in the home team’s dressing room.

The storm all surrounds the friendly banter shared between Elliott and Best on Friday night with their chat beginning with a friendly peck on the cheek.

“We can see Bradman Best here, let’s go have a chat to him,” she told the live Channel 9 audience as she entered the sheds.

“Braddy, you didn’t get a try tonight, but you did dive straight into the (signage) board, how was that,” she asked.

Bradman Best almost scored a miraculous try before crashing into the advertising boards. Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images.

Best responded with: “Yeah, it was good. Got me a beauty. Disappointed I didn’t score it, but good comedy for the fans”.

Elliott followed the question by saying: “And what was it like tonight? Have you ever played in conditions like that?”

Best responded: “I was just saying to he boys, I don’t think I’ve ever played in that sort of weather. It was torrential, but glad we got the points”.

Elliott’s next question was: “Was it fun? Did it take you back to the days of playing footy in the back yard, rain hail or shine you’re out there playing?”

Best responded: “Yeah it did. It took me back to a little kid running out there playing in mud, slipping and sliding”.

Elliott signed off by saying: “Nice, thankyou very much Braddy...”

That’s when Best got his signals wrong and leaned in for a farewell peck, only for Elliott to offer him a tap on the shoulder.

“Go and put a shirt on and we’ll chat to somebody else.” Elliott said with a grin as she walked away.

Originally published as Truth behind NRL interview drama as Knights gun responds