Ben Barba

Ben Barba to fight lifetime ban

The fallen NRL star presented himself to Mackay police and was charged with two counts of public nuisance over an incident at the Townsville casino in January.

The former Dally M Medallist will appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on March 22.

Barba reportedly will not face domestic violence-related charges because his partner Ainslie Currie has not made a complaint.

Barba was sacked by NRL club North Queensland without playing a game for the club last month over allegations he was violent towards Currie in the incident.

Barba eyes NRL return after reviving career at St Helens

Barba was named the man of the match for the Saints in their Super League season opener against Castleford on the weekend and if this performance was anything to go by, we may not have seen the last of the 2016 Cronulla Sharks premiership winner playing in the NRL.

Barba not only scored twice, but he also had a hand in most of their attacking raids in the eight-try romp over the Tigers. He also made an astounding try-saving tackle on winger Greg Eden, which led to Barba scoring a short time later.

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Barba makes St Helens move

Barba, a former Dally M Medallist, was axed by Top 14 side Toulon earlier this month, ending his brief stint in rugby union.

The 27-year-old had been released by the Cronulla Sharks at the end of last year after a positive drugs test, having helped the club win the 2016 NRL premiership.

Barba's move to St Helens was confirmed on Wednesday, with the Super League side using the new marquee player rule.

Ben Barba says he was treated unfairly by NRL in wake of his drugs ban

Barba, 27, admits anxiousness over his move to French rugby club Toulon, but says too many unknowns about his future pushed him away from the NRL. The rugby union convert says unlike him, NRL players who have been in a similar position have been allowed to train with their clubs.

“I didn’t know what was going on,” Barba told Fox Sports. “I didn’t know when I was allowed to go back to training, when my contract was going to be registered, when I was allowed to actually join the team and ball work.

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Hayne warns Barba: It’s ruthless over there

Barba has inked a $2.5 million deal with Toulon _ the glamour club that once poached Sonny Bill Williams _ and is set to fly to France for their clash against Lyon on February 19.

Barba will arrive at a critical period, with Toulon sitting in fifth place and needing to win six of their final nine matches to clinch a berth in the French Top 14 finals series.

NRL wants compulsory education, training for players following Ben Barba's French rugby exit

The NRL's chief executive Todd Greenberg has told the ABC he would like to see the condition form part of the code's new player pay deal.

Players should be doing something in addition to playing football "so they have something to fall back on," he said.

"I would expect that will be a big part of the collective bargaining agreement," Greenberg said.

Barba quits rugby league after accepting Toulon deal

The Sharks said Barba had informed the club he had accepted a two-and-a-half-year deal offered by Toulon.

"Ben believes accepting this offer to be in the best interests of himself and his family," a Sharks statement said.

"While disappointed to be losing a player of his calibre, the welfare of Ben and his family is our main priority and we are supportive of the decision he has made."

Barba had planned on spending the second half of the French Top 14 season with Toulon before returning to the NRL mid-year after serving a 12-month suspension for illicit drug use.

Toulon say they've signed Ben Barba

"Ben Barba will arrive in Toulon next week," read a statement on Toulon's website.

RNZ reports only two weeks ago, Cronulla re-signed Barba two months after his contract was terminated by the Sharks following a positive test to cocaine.

The 27-year-old was hit with a 12-match ban in November as a result of the second positive sample he returned under the NRL's illicit drug policy.

Barba penned a one-year contract for the 2017 season but the deal is yet to be ratified by the NRL.

Ben Barba re-signs with Cronulla but return could be delayed for months

The Sharks confirmed on Wednesday they had signed their premiership-winning fullback, just over two months after they released him following his second positive test for illicit drugs within a year.

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Barba nowhere to be seen among all-time Sharks nominees

While controversial teammate Andrew Fifita has been listed among the candidates for one of the two front-row spots, Barba's name is nowhere to be seen on the fullback options.

Instead voters are given the choice between David Peachey, Rick Bourke, Mick Mullane, Jonathan Docking, Preston Campbell and Michael Gordon.

Barba scored the Sharks' first try in their breakthrough grand final win last month, capping his best season in the NRL since winning the Dally M at the Bulldogs in 2012.

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