Over the last few years the Brisbane Broncos have been under-achieving by their own lofty standards.
Having been a mainstay in the finals series for a run of 18 years straight, they finally missed the boat when finishing 10th in the 2010 season.
That year, the Broncos’ final hopes were dealt a colossal blow as their leader Darren Lockyer succumbed to a rib injury three weeks out from the finals.
The Broncos finished third in Lockyer’s final season in 2011, and scraped through at eighth position the following year, however once again in 2013 they were near the foot of the table, ending the year at an inadequate 12th position.
While having a solid forward pack and an enterprising backline with the likes of Justin Hodges and Josh Hoffman, it was clear a game breaker was needed at Red Hill.
Cue Ben Barba, a player who had a solid 2011 followed by a fantastic 2012, climaxing with Barba winning numerous awards including the prestigious Dally M Player of the Year.
Unfortunately for Bulldogs supporters, who were hopeful of going one better in 2013, off-field issues and some abysmal choices over the summer led to a rehab stint at the start of the season for Barba.
Although he still managed to score 10 tries in 17 games, he never seemed to recover mentally, and failed to hit the memorable heights of the previous couple of years.
His horror year included a high sprain ankle injury suffered against Parramatta in Round 20, and culminated in another ankle injury in his last game for the blue and white against the Knights.
He never appeared completely match fit either and seemed to have lost a step due to a disrupted pre-season.
Added to this was the constant media scrutiny he was going to leave Sydney to follow his young family.
The Broncos needed a star turn to freshen up the hopes of the supporters and team, and Barba needed a fresh start to get his life together.
By all accounts, it seems Barba is in a better state of mind, and has gelled with the Broncos playing group.
He has developed a close affinity to Justin Hodges, who himself went through a crisis when he made his big move to Sydney, and could offer Barba advice on how to better himself.
After having off-season surgery on his ankle, Barba has resumed full-time training and is looking fitter and bulkier than before, and has been impressive during training, which bodes ill for the rest of the competition.
The thought of Corey Parker, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday and fellow new-recruit Martin Kennedy busting up the middle and offloading to the lightning-quick Barba must have the Broncos supporters salivating.
In turn, the feel around the Broncos camp and supporters is buzzing, due to their recruitment drive, and with the prospect of another exciting young player, Anthony Milford, coming up north for the 2015 season.
It is safe to say the future for the Broncos is looking bright.
It may be presumptuous to suggest the Broncos could be in the top four, however with the talent they have acquired in the off-season and with young players like Jordan Kahu and Zach Strasser coming through, they should definitely be aiming for finals football come September.
They also have the highly touted Ben Hunt looking to make the halfback role his own, and Hunt and Barba both have the potential to strike up a deadly combination.
While it is too early to see the extent of the impact Barba will have on the Broncos, it can be said the club has at least already had a positive impact on the player.
If Barba keeps on the right track and stays in a good headspace, the club and player could be the perfect match, with Barba reviving his career and the club restoring pride and finals football for its supporters.
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