Absolutely thrilled to welcome NRL star Bradman Best to FENECH – The Jeff Fenech Story, where he will step into the ring to play Australian fighting great Jeff Harding. It may be a smaller role in the film, but it is one we felt was important to cast with real presence, real physicality, and real Australian grit. From the moment the idea came up, Bradman was excited by the opportunity to be part of Jeff Fenech’s story, and we could not be prouder to have him involved. Best is one of the NRL’s most explosive outside backs, known for his power, speed and toughness with the Newcastle Knights, and those qualities make him a natural fit for a project that is built on heart, strength and authenticity.

Bradman brings more than profile to this role. He brings a strong physical presence and a competitive edge that audiences immediately believe. In a film like FENECH, authenticity matters in every frame, especially when it comes to the world surrounding Jeff. We have always wanted this film to feel lived-in and real, and bringing in athletes who understand competition, pressure, discipline and toughness is a big part of that vision. Bradman’s involvement adds another exciting layer to the production, and it is a terrific example of sport and cinema coming together in the right way.

For those who know Australian fight history, Jeff Harding is no ordinary figure. Harding became a two-time WBC light heavyweight world champion, and his unforgettable 1989 war with Dennis Andries was later recognised as the WBC’s Fight of the Year. He was one of the toughest men ever to come out of Australian boxing, a fighter whose courage, aggression and refusal to back down made him a fan favourite and a genuine champion of his era.

While Jeff Harding is not a major featured character in the film, he absolutely had a place in Jeff Fenech’s life and world. The connection matters because both men came through the orbit of legendary trainer Johnny Lewis, who guided each of them to world titles and helped define one of the great eras of Australian boxing. Harding was also part of the hard, uncompromising gym culture around that time, and Johnny Lewis himself has recalled Fenech’s willingness to spar bigger men, including Harding, despite Harding being significantly heavier. That detail says so much about Jeff Fenech — his fearlessness, his obsession, and his willingness to test himself against anyone. It is exactly the kind of texture that helps build the truth of the world this film is recreating.

That is why this casting matters. Even in a smaller role, Jeff Harding represents something important in the FENECH story: the brutal standard of the era, the calibre of fighters around Jeff, and the environment that helped shape him into the champion he became. These were not soft years, and these were not easy men. They were forged in tough gyms, under tough trainers, through tough fights. Harding’s presence helps honour that broader boxing landscape, and Bradman Best is a terrific choice to help bring that spirit to the screen.

We are proud that Bradman wanted to be part of this journey. It says a lot about him that he saw the value in contributing to a project about one of Australia’s greatest sporting stories, even in a supporting part. That kind of respect for our sporting history means a lot to us. As FENECH continues to grow, every casting decision is about building a world that feels honest, powerful and unmistakably Australian. Bringing Bradman Best in to play Jeff Harding is another exciting step in that direction, and we cannot wait for audiences to see him in the film.