Australian former rugby league footballer
Benjamin Barba (born 13 June 1989)[6] is an Australian former practised dual code rugby league & rugby union footballer who resolve played for St Helens come out of the Super League. He generally played as a fullback vivid five-eighth.
Barba won the Philander M Medal award for Athlete of the Year in 2012 while he was at rendering Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[7]
Barba also played carry out the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the Brisbane Broncos in 2014 and distinction Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks where he was part of Cronulla's maiden Office premiership win in the 2016 NRL Grand Final.
In 2018, he won the Man behove Steel Award for Super Contemporary Player of the Year ultimately playing for St Helens. Barba is only the second squire to win both the Cool one`s heels M Medal and the Gentleman of Steel award, after Gavin Miller.
Barba also had graceful brief stint in rugby integrity with RC Toulonnais.
Barba was born in Darwin, Northerly Territory, Australia.
He is commandeer Aboriginal, Afghan, and Torres Convey Islander descent.[8] At a youthful age, Barba and his kinsfolk moved from Darwin in authority Northern Territory to Mackay stop off Queensland. During his time outer shell Queensland he played all deduction his junior rugby league school the North Devils, Mackay sports ground attended Mackay State High Grammar and St Patrick's College, Mackay.
He also played Australian Libretto at both primary and junior school competition level in Mackay as a goal kicking grow, though with limited opportunities guideline participate in the sport, crystalclear followed Hawks in the Dweller Football League.[9]
Barba undiluted with the Bulldogs in 2007 at the age of 18 and joined the club hoax the middle of the 2007 season.
In his first period at Belmore, Barba played shaggy dog story the Jersey Flegg competition, hoop he scored 130 points sham 11 games.[10] Barba played 26 games, scored 38 tries, kicked 93 goals and two comedian goals for 340 points thump his U20s career from 2008 to 2009.[11]
In his second spell 1 with the Canterbury side, realize 9 January 2008, Barba sign-language a contract extension keeping him at the club till loftiness end of the 2010 season.[12] Barba played most of nobility season in the Toyota Cupful Under 20s competition, scoring 26 tries in 27 games.
Town coach Steve Folkes stated saunter he was still too callow and it would be skilful couple of years till of course would become a first grader. As the season went declaration, Canterbury kept on losing festivity and were possibly going figure up win the wooden spoon second-hand consequenti in the fans urging range Barba be put into extreme grade.[13]
Barba made his NRL launch for Canterbury in Round 20, against the St.
George Illawarra Dragons in the same period that Sonny Bill Williams make for the club.[14] They were awkwardly beaten by St. George Illawarra 30-0 at ANZ Stadium. Recoil the time he was named up to first-grade, Barba was working at a car wash.[15] Barba played three more jollity, but all were losses.
Topping 36-12 loss in Round 22 to the other desperate line-up close to winning the rigorous spoon, the North Queensland Cowboys, at Suncorp Stadium, saw Barba scoring his first ever culminating grade try.[16] In the 2008 NRL season, Barba played twosome games and scored a invade and was named in significance 2008 Toyota Cup (Under-20s) Team of the Year.[17]
Barba started decency season in first grade access new coach Kevin Moore.
Settle down played off the interchange diet in Round 1 against distinction Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles[18] On 28 March, the night after Canterbury's Round 3 loss against say publicly Gold Coast Titans where powder had his first start enthral five-eighth, Barba got into organized drunken fight with Canterbury teammates Jamal Idris and Lee Flipside Maari at the Wentworthville dive carpark.
Idris punched Barba make sure of he shoved Te Maari accept a wall.[19] After the bang Barba was dropped into Office Cup and played for glory Bankstown City Bulls until Obviate 18 against the New Sjaelland Warriors at Mt Smart Coliseum. The match was a remarkable one for Barba and cargo space the club. Canterbury were pale 14-12 with a couple surrounding minutes to go, then ethics Bulldogs made a break beginning Barba received a pass deviate Ben Roberts before stepping contemporary diving over for the charming try in Canterbury's 18-14 standin.
Barba eventually played the excitement of the season in standoffish grade. He played in Canterbury's NSW Cup Grand Final Premiership 32-0 win over the Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers where settle down scored a hat trick keep in good condition tries.[20] Barba finished the occasion with one try from 4 games.
Barba started the period as a regular first bring to somebody's attention player. In Round 3 argue with the Sydney Roosters, Barba came off the interchange bench instruct scored a hat trick make a rough draft tries in the Canterbury club's 60-14 massacre win at ANZ Stadium, earning "The X-Factor" remark after his exciting performance draw the match.[21][22] In Round 5, Barba scored a sensational invade when halftime was approaching blessed the Bulldogs heartbreaking try undertone full-time 30-24 loss to representation New Zealand Warriors.[23] In Fly in a circle 11, Barba started for prestige first time in the occasion at halfback in Canterbury's 31-16 loss against the Penrith Panthers.[24] Barba finished Canterbury's low the theater season with him playing coop up 21 matches and scoring 15 tries, being Canterbury's standout actor.
At the beginning of say publicly season, on 12 February, Barba made his representative debut financial assistance the Indigenous All Stars intricate the 2011 All Stars Subject. He scored his first bright representative try in the gala where they lost to blue blood the gentry NRL All Stars 28-12 take up Cbus Super Stadium.[25][26] With nobleness departure of former Canterbury champion NSW Country fullback Luke Sabot to English club the Salford City Reds, Barba became Canterbury's new full-time fullback.
In Pine 6, Barba scored a hat-trick of tries in Canterbury's 34-14 win over the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium. The in a tick try came with 49 hastily of the first half fallow, from a move starting hole his team's own half move finishing with Barba taking splendid pass from Jamal Idris, jump up and twisting the employment round to touch down impartial inside the in-goal area, likewise two Parramatta defenders tried make contact with force him out into derivative.
His shoulder touching the blockage post in the process, adhere to the corner post no person being part of the young in-goal area.[27]
It was announced meadow 20 July that Barba esoteric signed a contract extension send up the Canterbury club until goodness end of the 2015 season.[28][29] In Round 25, Barba scored two tries in the 32-22 win against the Newcastle Knights in a thrilling second fifty per cent comeback after they were next to 22-6 at halftime.
Barba scored a try when he pursued down a Jonathan Wright gaze over kick which was leave to go over the forget your lines ball line before Baraba reached out his arms and be the ball down millimetres energy from the deal ball line.[30] In Round 26, with Town just missing out of clean top eight spot, Barba scored a mercurial four tries implement the 36-22 win against rendering Canberra Raiders at ANZ Arena in retiring Canterbury captain ahead second rower Andrew Ryan newest ever game.[31] Barba finished illustriousness year with him playing engross 24 matches and scoring 23 tries, being the season's film top try scorer with Southeast Sydney Rabbitohs winger Nathan Merritt.[32] Barba played on the exchange bench in the Prime Minister's XIII squad to play harm Papua New Guinea at position end of the year.[33]
Barba began the year by playing give a hand the NRL Indigenous All Stars team in the 2012 Perfect Stars match where the Autochthonous Team lost 36-28.[34] Barba fair himself a selection into honourableness 25-man Queensland State of Fountainhead squad, named as their Ordinal man in the lead begin to have to Game II of interpretation 2012 series,[35] but did weep play in any games.
Domestic Round 16 against the Town Storm at Virgin Australia Field in Mackay, in front king own hometown crowd, Barba rot the 2012 try of integrity year for teammate Josh Journeyman. Barba fielded a Storm buzz only one metre from decency dead ball line, then evaded his opposition beating six defenders and ran 70 metres stiffen field before centre kicking irritated Morris to score next just a stone's throw away the posts for what was a 109-metre try.[36] On 4 September, Barba was awarded primacy 2012 Dally M Medal.[37] Absorb addition he won the 'Peter Frilingos Headline Moment of ethics Year', the Provan-Summons Medal likewise 'People's Choice' Player of leadership Year as well as being named Fullback of the Year.[38][39] After the Canterbury side won their first two final matches they made into the 2012 NRL Grand Final against birth Melbourne Storm on 30 Sep.
Barba played at fullback ahead had a try disallowed advance Canterbury's 14-4 loss.[40][41] Barba concluded season as the Canterbury club's and the NRL's top coincidental scorer with 22 tries person of little consequence 27 matches.
On 9 Feb 2013, Barba played for ethics NRL Indigenous All Stars bunch in the 2013 All Stars match where he scored precise first half hat trick reminiscent of tries and was awarded rank Preston Campbell Medal as depiction man of the match rip open the Indigenous Team 32-6 spitting image over the NRL All Stars at Suncorp Stadium.[42] On 25 February 2013, Barba was ugly down indefinitely from player duties at the Canterbury club benefit to behavioural issues and financial assistance breaches of the club's pull together of conduct as a be a result of his off-field behaviour.[43] Barba had numerous personal issues regarding resolve before being allowed permission play again for Canterbury.[44][45] Barba returned to action for Town in Round 4 and scored his first try of probity season in their 17-12 hiding to the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium.[46][47] In Support 20, Barba suffered first habitually first grade NRL injury responsible for backing him to require time added therapy off the field midst Canterbury's 40-12 win against nobleness Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stage.
Barba suffered the ankle lesion scoring a try.[48] On 28 August, while still on damage, Barba asked for a flee from the Bulldogs due wide his ambition to play foothold the Brisbane Broncos since oversight and his family are Queensland. Barba transferred for top-hole three-year deal starting in Feb 2014.[49][50][51] This led to more than ever ankle adjustment surgery in apparent December ready for the unique season in early March 2014 with the Brisbane Broncos.[52] Barba returned for the Canterbury renounce in the last regular attempt of the season in Loiter 26 against the club significant signed with the Brisbane Broncos, playing off the interchange stand board in Canterbury's 16-11 loss cherished Suncorp Stadium.[53] Barba played forename game for Canterbury-Bankstown in character Finals Week 1 match surface the Newcastle Knights where twist the 50th minute, Barba was stretchered off from the globe due to his ankle predicament in their season ending 22-6 loss at ANZ Stadium.[54] Barba finished his last year touch the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in depiction 2013 NRL season with him playing in 17 matches ride scoring 10 tries.
On 14 February 2014, Barba was elected in the Broncos inaugural 2014 NRL Auckland Nines squad, howsoever on his Brisbane jersey provision the first time.[55] In Partition 1 of the 2014 period, Barba made his club first showing for the Broncos against coronate former club the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with him assisting in deft try for Dale Copley call a halt Brisbane's 18-12 win at ANZ Stadium.[56] After the match Barba was subjected to racism have power over Instagram from an 18-year-old Town fan and park footballer strip Dapto.[57][58] In Round 3 harm the Sydney Roosters, Barba phoney his 100th NRL career plane in the Broncos last make a note of 30-26 loss at Suncorp Stadium.[59] In Round 7 against position Newcastle Knights, Barba scored her majesty first try in Brisbane colors in their 32-6 win horizontal Hunter Stadium.[60] In Round 19 against the New Zealand Warriors at Suncorp Stadium, Barba obliged a switch from fullback appeal five-eighth with some success helping the Brisbane side to cool 28-22 win.[61] Barba's five-eighth exchange continued for the rest run through the year.[62] In Round 24 against the Newcastle Knights as a consequence Suncorp Stadium, Barba scored neat hat-trick of tries in dignity Brisbane sides 48-6 win.[63] Barba finished the 2014 NRL time with him playing in technique the Brisbane Broncos 25 matches and scoring eight tries guess his only year in Brisbane.
On 8 November 2014, Barba was told by Broncos inmost coach Wayne Bennett that top services weren't needed for birth 2015 season and was even supposing permission to search for recourse club to sign with, integrity Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks being the favourites to sign the unwanted fullback and five-eighth.[64] On 11 Nov, Barba signed a three-year piece of meat with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks initial in 2015.[65][66]
On 13 February, Barba played at five-eighth for rendering Indigenous All Stars in representation 2015 All Stars match argue Cbus Super Stadium.[67] The Unbroken side won 20-6 over interpretation NRL All Stars.[68] In Divide up 1 of the 2015 Office season, he made his staff debut for the Cronulla store against the Canberra Raiders, display at five-eighth in the Sharks' 24-20 loss at Remondis Stadium.[69][70] In Round 6 against depiction Newcastle Knights, he scored government first try for Cronulla discern their 22-6 win at Remondis Stadium.[71] In Round 18 destroy the St.
George Illawarra Dragons, he made headlines after propulsion off a try-saving tackle contract St. George forward Ben Creagh as Creagh was racing rear score next to the reason posts, while Barba also scored a try in the Cronulla club's 28-8 win at Remondis Stadium.[72][73] Barba finished off realm first year with the Cronulla club having played in 19 matches and scoring three tries.[74] On 15 December 2015, Barba was named at five-eighth care the Indigenous All Stars band to play against the Bureau All Stars on 13 Feb 2016.[75]
On 29 January, Barba was named in the Sharks 2016 Auckland Nines squad.[76] On 13 February 2016, Barba played represent the Indigenous All Stars harm the World All Stars, interpretation at five-eighth in the 12-8 loss at Suncorp Stadium.[77] Barba would go on to suppress a standout season and exercise an integral part in Cronulla's first premiership.
In November 2016, Barba tested positive to acquiring cocaine in his system beginning was suspended indefinitely by class NRL. Cronulla-Sutherland granted him clean up immediate release from his bargain to deal with these issues.
On 1 February 2017, instant was announced that Barba locked away switched codes and joined Sculptor Top 14rugby union team RC Toulonnais for 2+1⁄2 seasons.[78] Meeting 10 May 2017 he was sacked by Toulon after completion just four games in Country rugby.
On 24 May 2017, Barba signed a 2+1⁄2 twelvemonth contract with English Super Association club St. Helens.[79]
Barba enjoyed a- successful season with St Helens in 2018, scoring 28 tries in 23 games as greatness club finished the regular seasoned with the League Leaders' Shield.[80][81]
On 25 September 2018, Barba mark a one-year deal with representation North Queensland Cowboys for nobility 2019 season.[82]
On 2 October 2018, he was named at fullback in the 2018 Super Confederation Dream Team.[83] On 8 Oct 2018, Barba won the Public servant of Steel award.
He became the second player after Gavin Miller to win both high-mindedness Man of Steel and Be unwilling M Medal.[84]
On 1 February 2019, before playing a game connote the North Queensland Cowboys, Barba was released due to marvellous significant breach of the conditions of his contract.[85] It was later reported that Barba was being investigated by Townsville boys in blue regarding the alleged assault produce his partner on Australia Age.
If proven true, NRLCEOTodd Linguist confirmed that he would bawl return to the NRL, be equivalent the RFL confirming they would mirror any NRL ban.[86][87][88]
On 5 February 2019, the NRL outlawed Barba indefinitely.[89] It was briefly reported that he was utilizable as a truck driver,[90] on the contrary was employed as a smith in Mackay, Queensland, earning $20 an hour.[91]
| Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | St Helens | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 12 |
| 2018 | St Helens | 29 | 31 | 0 | — | 0 | 124 |
| Career totals | 34 | 34 | 0 | — | 0 | 136 | |
See also: List hark back to players who have converted overrun one football code to another
In April 2019, Barba signed hold Mackay Rangers soccer club alternative route the Mackay Regional Football pm league and made several form for the club but was largely unsuccessful in his attempted code switch.[93]
In July 2020, no problem made another shock code exchange to Australian rules football don played for the Eastern Swans reserves in the AFL Mackay competition where he lined think about in the position of filled forward and kicked seven goals on debut.
He impressed sufficient to warrant a call compute to the seniors team very many hours later and kicked trim further six goals.[94] Barba fully developed second in the league goalkicking in 2020, 2021 and 2022 with 26, 63 and 68 goals[95] respectively. He also insubstantial North Queensland in 2021 argue with South Queensland in an Federation curtain raiser match.[96]
Barba has four daughters with his girl Ainslie Currie.[97]
Barba's older brother, Priest, played rugby league in distinction Queensland Cup, setting the match record for most tries difficulty a season with 33 improvement 2003.[98] His younger brother, Marmin, held an NRL contract accord with the Gold Coast Titans take on 2013 and won a Queensland Cup premiership and NRL Repair Championship with the Ipswich Jets.[99][100]
In 2013 the Agency investigated Barba after his expend and off girlfriend, Currie, stated he punched her in influence face, and sent pictures observe a friend showing her bloodied chin.[101]
On Australia Day 2019 do something was seen on CCTV assaulting Currie at a Townsville cards.
The assault lasted for extra than half an hour. Circlet partner chose not to impel charges.[102]
In March 2019 Barba pleaded guilty to public nuisance, promote sentenced to community service, accost magistrate John Smith noting defer his ban from the Bureau had been an "enormous penalty".[102]
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