Rugby League World Cup: Bradman Best's childhood dream realised with Kangaroos debut

Bradman Best is set to realise a childhood dream when he makes his Rugby League World Cup debut for the Kangaroos against Fiji in Brisbane on Sunday.

A photo from 2013, taken by Tanya Doorn at Woy Woy's St John the Baptist school, shows Best holding a chalkboard with the message "Play Rugby League for Australia".

Best, 25, is one of four debutants in the Kangaroos' line-up and says the opportunity "means everything".

"Ever since a little kid, I've dreamt of this … it's pretty special," he said.

Tanya Doorn, Best's year 6 teacher, says she could see his potential from an early age.

"You could tell Bradman was going to potentially become something great on the field," she said.

"He was never the loudest player or a loud show off. He was a very humble student."

Best played junior rugby league for the Woy Woy Roosters before being signed by the Newcastle Knights and debuting in the NRL in 2019.

Although his primary school could not be more proud of his success, Best did not enjoy his school years.

"I hated school and sort of put all my eggs into one basket and that was rugby league," he said.

Best's year 2 teacher, Clare Gallagher, said his athletic talent was apparent from early on.

"He was going to be an Olympic runner — he always ran 100 metres exceptionally fast," she said.

Best hopes to inspire students at his former school to chase their dreams.

"For the young kids coming through, I always tell them, 'Dream big,'" he said.

"Aspire to be whatever you want to do, whatever you want to be … go out and chase it."

Ms Gallagher said the students were taking inspiration from Best's success.

"It makes them think that if someone from our school can do that, I can do that, because they all have big dreams," she said.

Best's inspiration came from his father, who played rugby league.

"At that young age it was my dad. He was my hero, he played rugby league and I guess I just wanted to be like him," he said.