Paul Gallen has urged Ben Barba to forget his Brisbane nightmare and prove at Cronulla he’s still one of the NRL’s brightest talents.
Barba’s endured a difficult two years since lighting up the 2012 season as fullback for Canterbury to win the Dally M Medal.
Dogged by off-field issues in 2013, his dream move to the Broncos last year soured as the club exited in the first week of the finals with Barba showing only glimpses of his best form.
The return of Wayne Bennett and Darius Boyd to Brisbane was the catalyst for a move back to Sydney and captain Gallen said Barba now had a great chance to kick-start his career again with the Sharks.
“Whatever Ben has done in the past is the past,” Gallen told AAP.
“Two years ago he was awesome for Canterbury but that’s history. It was with a different team, different coach, different players and in a different position.”
Barba will start the 2015 season at five-eighth and Gallen is confident he can fill the void left by Todd Carney’s departure to France.
“It’s a different position but he’s played there before and I am sure he’ll adapt,” he said.
“Everyone knows what he can do but we’re not putting him under any extra pressure and hopefully we get the best out of him.”
Gallen’s currently preparing for his third professional boxing contest on January 31 at Sydney’s Allphones Arena.
He’ll climb into the ring with former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Randall Rayment on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams’ heavyweight clash with American journeyman Chauncy Welliver.
Rayment won his only pro boxing bout in June and previously fought as an amateur so Gallen’s expecting a tougher contest than his last fight against former NRL player Anthony Watts who dislocated his shoulder midway through the first round.
“We’ve watched a bit of video and know because of his MMA background he’s going to be very fit and physical,” he said.
“I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of learning about boxing and the more I’ve done the more I realise I am actually quite s***.
“It’s not just about going in there and throwing punches.
“It’s footwork, head movement and the science of combinations and the mental toughness. Graham Shaw my trainer has been a huge help and I’m getting better and better.”
A contest with ex-NRL superstar Williams is being lined up next year should Gallen beat Rayment but the NSW Origin skipper has no idea how long his career in the ring will last.
“I am still very much a footy player first and foremost but it would be great to fight Sonny,” he said.
“But I have to win this fight first then we’ll see what’ll happen. But if I have a goal in boxing then it’s to fight Sonny.”
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