How do you solve a problem like Ben Barba? He is a shell of the man who ran away with the 2012 Dally M Medal after back-to-back shockers for new club Brisbane.
His season start was summed up by one of the final plays of their gut-wrenching 12-8 last-round loss to Gold Coast.
Gun shy after dropping a first-half bomb, Barba made the fatal mistake of letting a high ball bounce near the uprights then was somehow pick-pocketed in the in-goal by Titans pivot Aidan Sezer who scored the match winner.
Brisbane have surprised many with their bright season start but need Barba to fire sometime soon if they are to be true finals contenders.
Key: Barba might be causing headaches for Broncos coach Anthony Griffin but the mere mention of halfback Ben Hunt must surely raise a smile. The vertically challenged No.7 is standing tall in a breakout season leading Brisbane in tries scored (five) and line breaks (six).
Gaz
Guest
Barba needs to regain some confidence in both attack and as a fullback catching the bombs. Nominally a player is sent back to the Qld Cup to fix a problem of confidence and maybe that is what's needed here. Seems to have worked for Sandow and maybe Griffin needs to man up and make that call for the good of the team as well as Ben.