Some observations on the Ben Barba front now that the smoke has cleared a little from the initial explosion – starting with the possibility that he might be the most naturally brilliant player the game has ever seen.
Note that I said most naturally brilliant – not best. There is a difference.
What prompts me to suggest this is not the amazing season Barba had last year – although you could use that as the basis of a decent argument – but what he did in the recent All Stars game.
Barba was the man-of-the-match with three tries for the Indigenous team, at a time when he would have had to have been going through the thick of the personal dramas that have subsequently been revealed as the reason he is out of the game indefinitely.
Judging by the sheer joy on Barba’s face during the All Stars match, playing rugby league was a relief for him that night, unlike last weekend when he reportedly told a Canterbury trainer during a trial game that he didn’t want to keep playing.
And the fact he was able to turn the brilliance on like a tap in the All Stars game, despite the burden, shows that Barba is an even greater talent than what we thought. He’s beyond freakish.
Which brings me to my next observation, which is that Canterbury are, indeed, a club in crisis.
I don’t mean in the sort of context that they were in crisis as a result of the salary cap drama of 2002, but the statistics from last season that detail Barba’s ability to not only score tries but make them prove the team’s fortunes are inextricably linked to his form.
That’s great when he’s playing, but a cause for massive concern when he’s not, and the team has spent an entire off-season preparing with him as a focal point at fullback.
I guess it comes down to your assessment of what constitutes a crisis, which the dictionary defines as “an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty”, or “a crucial or turning point in the course of something”.
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg told the media at the club’s season launch on Tuesday that the club was not in crisis, saying: “Let’s be real, let’s be honest, we have got a player who is going through a difficult time and we’re supporting him. Our club’s got a lot of big plans for 2013 and tonight is the start of that.”
Greenberg also pointed out that, rather than getting nervous, club sponsors were backing the club and had congratulated it for its handling of the situation.
I’ve got no doubt all of that is true, and I get where Greenberg is coming from, but when your best player and last year’s Dally M player of the year is suddenly ruled out of the game indefinitely because of complex personal issues that’s a crisis for the club.
It doesn’t mean Canterbury have done anything wrong as a club, but it does mean they’re in a hell of a hole.
Still on Greenberg, and he’s been very impressive as the club leader in front of the cameras this week.
He has spoken with great clarity on the Barba situation, articulating the club’s deep concern for the player on one hand and acknowledging the need to bring in the treatment experts on the other.
Can the Bulldogs win the premiership without Barba? Well, it depends on what without him ends up meaning. Without him for a few weeks, a few months or the entire season?
If it ends up being the entire season, then even allowing for my appreciation of Des Hasler’s genius as a coach I would have to say no.
Barba’s brilliance helped make up for the fact the Bulldogs didn’t have a star halfback last season. Without him, they’re just not strong enough across the four key positions that constitute the “spine” to go all the way.
My final observation is that while the Barba story is obviously not a good news one, and that he deserves our very best wishes while he goes away to fight his demons, it’s another example of the perverse fact that any publicity is good publicity in rugby league.
It has got everyone talking, just like the previous bad news story did and the next one will. Everyone’s got an opinion, and the debate rages. Whether it’s good or bad news, the game keeps feeding off itself. You couldn’t kill rugby league with an axe.
Even the unfortunate gaffe by the ARLC’s new chief executive, David Smith, who referred to Barba as “Benji” at one point during his speech at the game’s season launch on Wednesday, is good publicity, because it will trigger discussion about the purpose for Smith being here.
Is he here to be a footy fan or is he here to run the game as a business?
The latter is obviously the case, although if he were to keep confusing the identity of players it might actually give the any publicity is good publicity theory a test.
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
Considering league is over a century old, it wouldn't be difficult to choose 100 naturally brilliant players ... Those players would have had to already notch up a career spanning 10 years, with a record to boast at club and representative levels, of which many would come from a long list of hall of famers or league legends ... Of which Ben Barba, although he has talent to burn, is some way off the mark on all those attributes ... One good season should not constitute super-status and if there is something everyone of league can learn from putting players up on a pedestal, then Ben Barba might have a chance of resurrecting his life, let alone his football career ...
dubbo teacher
Guest
Hey fellas...Pritchard didn't say the best player - he said the most naturally brilliant didn't he?... To me that implies nothing about defence, durability, ticker or longeveity. Most naturally brilliant - so 'flash in the pan' players qualify perfectly. Best is an entirely different argument. But naturally brilliant - yes I'd go for the likes of Phil Blake, Ewan McGrady, Preston Campbell, Mat Bowen (not that he's any flash in the pan), Blacklock, and these days you'd have to say Slater - although he has a lot more than that to his armoury, and yes Barba... To suggest Barba's not in the top 100 most brilliant players is absolute BS. There seem to be plenty of backs getting a run (and Kenny is certainly worth a mention) but let's not forget forwards like Gavin Miller and the late great Artie Beetson. Beetson I regard as the greatest prop of all time and he was brilliant in spotting a gap and getting himself through it (not to mention his teammates) with a turn of speed that defied belief for a big man, and his hands and football brain may easily be overlooked because of his strength and size. He had the bread and butter attributes of a great front rower but added a unique blend of qualities you'd be lucky to see in a halfback. He was a great leader of men on and off the field, was a tower of strength in one of the toughest of eras and was a dominant figure in defence. A true one-off and never to be seen again. So he was a lot more than naturally brilliant but was certanly that too.
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
Stop - Why do the could be's of sporting journalism think it is necessary to blow the ego of the young men of league, before they have chance to prove themselves through skill and talent, consistency and longevity ... It's a long way to the top in rugby league ... As is why Ben Barba, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Stewart, Benji Marshall, Johnathon Thurston and the like just can't quite live up to the expectations of the media, commenators and fans - Sadly It's not far from the mantle to the floor ... Mr Prichard, you may call yourself an expert, but one things for sure, you are an irresponsible one ...
Laney
Guest
This is about the most naturally gifted player ever nothing else and in my 53 years of life and 45 years of playing coaching(kids footy mostly) and watching i have never seen another player that was or is as naturally gifted as Johns . Don't get me wrong he is'nt the nicest or smartest guy in the world which i know first hand as i was at lorn park bowling club the night he got blind and dropped his pants in front of all the old girls there waving his tockly around for all to see and Matty behind him shaking his head. I also worked with his ex father in law so heard plenty of stories from him the guys a dxxx head but still the most naturally talented player i have ever seen .
Old Hand
Guest
If you don't know Laney - no point me telling you.
Laney
Guest
Why not mate
Bearfax
Guest
Ted Goodwin was a fine attacking full back but quite frankly Slater, Stewart, Hayne, Ingliss, Bowen are better more dangerous foorballers. I also remember Goodwin and he had fine talents but not that great. Reminded me a lot of Fairfax who was also an excellent footballer with flair but I think there's a few full backs today who are better. One thing the modern era and football style has given us is some very talented fullbacks. Churchill, Langlands, Eadie in the heyday were as good but there havent been that many.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Dumb response. Ironic you should mention that,because being a Shark's fan and a Kangaroo fan,one had the golden opportunity to gauge his performances week in and week out.They were of a consistently high order. He also played for St George if you remember.Were you privileged enough to see him play? My view on his ability ,is hardly an isolated one,ask Mick Cronin his Oz centre partner who played for Parramatta as to the guy's abiity. There are others I would rate nearly as highly,such as Raper,Sterling,Lewis,Johns A,Fulton,but I am including all necessary attributes.
Steve
Guest
Lets not get to carried away just yet about Benny. there is about another 5 years to go before we can call Benny a legend, or just another flash in the Pan.
llieno
Roar Rookie
Don't get me wrong, I love watching Benny Barba play, but my point was more about having him play like that for 10 years rather than just a couple of seasons. He's actually a great defender! Bowen will retire in the next couple of years. I would like to see the Cowboys make a play at either Barba or Tomkins.
Jayden
Roar Rookie
Andrew Johns I think you mean...
Old Hand
Guest
Don't think Johns counts Laney.
Bearfax
Guest
JF. If you are suggesting the top five today, you may have justification. But no way in the top five even in the last 70 years. He's good but he's not that good. I've watched League for near on 50 years and I've seen many his equal and several superior. Be careful not to get caught up in thinking the players of today are the best that have been because they arent.
Bobo
Guest
Langlands. Could do it all, and usually did. People have very short memories.
Laney
Guest
I love watching Barba play even though i don't like the dogs at all but most naturally gifted playe ever is along stretch imo. For that Tag you can't go past A Johns he ran the ball great, had the best kicking game ever, drove forwrds backwards in defense,could pass the ball 40 mrs and hit the guy on the chest , read the game better than most , and got more out of his team mates than most captains can ... Barba is a great ball runner and lovely to watch but that is all, he does'nt have the rest of the skills i have mentioned . When he has agreat kicking game or can throw a forty mtr pas or drive a f/rower backwards or kick 3/4 of the way accross the field and hit his winger on the chest and does all this year in year out then call him the most gifted player ever but untill then i think not .
mushi
Roar Guru
...if you're a sharks fan
Bazzio
Roar Guru
I haven't seen anyone as gifted in attack as Ben Barba since Lord Ted Goodwin.
Lou
Guest
Enough said!!!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The most brilliant and naturally gifted player,from the point of view of attack,defensive qualities,speed,evasive skills deception,sportsmanship,abiltiyt to read a game,week in week out ,was the late Steve Rogers
Bluebag
Guest
Herbie Messenger went allright they reckon. Horder was good enough to help Norths win a premiership - enough said! Burge was a freak, I was speaking to the son of a 1921 Kangaroo today and he was sharing some Burge stories - a great man as well as a great player. Dave Brown's title of The Bradman of League shows how good he was and as for Bevan, old Poms get misty in the eyes at the mere mention of his name.