Best told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that he understood O’Sullivan was trying to do what was best for the club and his manager was trying to do what was best for him. He said he would shake O’Sullivan’s hand if he saw him on the street, but that he felt a bit disrespected by how things were handled.
"We'd ring him, then he wouldn't answer. He'd tell us, 'Can we catch up?', then we tried to catch up ... it probably went both ways, but like I said, I felt a bit disrespected," Best said. He added that he wished O'Sullivan well at the Broncos.
O'Sullivan could not be contacted for comment.
The Knights have offered Best a three-year deal worth about $1 million a season, including ratchet clauses, while sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed a fourth year had been discussed verbally.
Best, a Newcastle junior, said his loyalties were with the Knights and that he had every reason to stay, noting his younger brother Baxter had also just signed with the club. He said negotiations could have moved faster this week if Australia's World Cup semi-final against Samoa had been played in Newcastle rather than Sydney. New Zealand and Tonga contest the other semi-final at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night.
Best said he was aware of Parramatta's interest, including comments from his soon-to-be father-in-law, champion boxer Jeff Fenech, who played in the Eels' lower grades. He said he had not spoken to Eels coach Jason Ryles but had heard good things about him, and that Mitch Moses had praised Ryles while in camp. "But I've made no decision as of yet," Best said. "I've still got plenty of things to think about, and what's going to benefit me and my family."
Best said the competition between himself, Latrell Mitchell and Kotoni Staggs was helping get the best out of each of them. On Sunday he will line up alongside Knights teammate Jermaine McEwen, who has been in strong form in the back row for Samoa.
Mitchell said he was happy to bide his time on the bench. "I'm here to do whatever is needed," he said. "If it's five minutes to go, and I come on and kick the field-goal, whatever it is ... I'll do. I'm the worst spectator. It will be no different on Sunday."
Fullback Reece Walsh confirmed a groin issue was the reason he handed goal-kicking duties to Cam Munster in Saturday night's match against the Cook Islands. Walsh said he would test the groin on Friday before deciding whether to kick on Sunday, and that his groin felt tight in the warm-up.