Star Cronulla fullback Ben Barba has been sacked by the club after reportedly testing positive to cocaine following the Sharks’ inaugural grand final win earlier this year.
The club released a statement on Tuesday morning following reports from the Daily Telegraph that he tested positive for cocaine four days after Cronulla’s two-point win over the Melbourne Storm to break their long-standing premiership drought.
“The club wishes to advise that it has agreed to provide Ben Barba an immediate release from his playing contract in order for him to address some significant personal issues,” the statement read.
“While this decision has not been easy for either party there is full agreement that it is one made in the best interests of Ben, his young family and our club.
“Consistent with our Club’s major focus on the welfare of its players, the Club is fully supportive of this decision and will assist in any way possible to allow Ben the time needed to address his life away from the pressure environment of professional sport.”
The NRL has announced that, should Barba return to the competition, he will first have to serve a mandatory 12-game suspension for his second breach of the code’s illicit drugs policy. Barba’s first strike was recorded in 2015.
Barba has a history of off-field issues in the NRL. Prior to his first breach of the illicit drugs policy last year, he was stood down by the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2013 to sort out an alcohol and gambling problem, as well as some other personal issues.
The 27-year old will now fly to an overseas facility – believed to be in Thailand – to seek treatment following the recent positive test.
“I know and accept I need to take some time away from the game to deal with some personal issues,” Barba said in a statement.
“I am accountable for myself and my actions and if I don’t address them now I will certainly ruin my career and more importantly my life and that of my family.
“As footballers we often find it hard to speak up about having problems, but this decision has lifted so much pressure off myself that I cannot start to explain just how much better I feel by taking this action.”
Barba was one of the best performers in Cronulla’s maiden grand final win, scoring the first try in their premiership-clinching win.
With the key playmaker now gone from the club, the Sharks do have a ready-made replacement for him in fullback in Valentine Holmes.
Holmes has played on the wing during his short NRL career so far, and is doing so with the Kangaroos in the current Four Nations campaign, but many see his future in the game wearing the number one jersey.
doogs
Guest
That was pretty funny
BigJ
Roar Guru
Hey man when are you going to write an article ??? would love to read one from you
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
" Fallen" One misguided player not the team not the club .Think one needs to check presents and future financials ,membership,sponsorship and merchandise sales.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Holmes will be first choice full back, now Barba's out of the equation.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
" Tasmania " seriously .I can' t believe I read that comment. Must be all that pure pollution free water.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Still work in progress PB.Bit convenient when semis around . " Let it play out" .Why not wait 6 months 12 months, people soon forget.Then when final decision made, a small story tucked away in some insignificant section of the print press.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Put you in a room with bob brown for seven days straight , that'd either cure you or send ya nutty .
Rob
Guest
You nailed it Squidman. It's a business decision by the Sharks more than a moral or image management policy. The Sharks have no credibility in that department. Barba has been moved on in very convenient circumstances for the Sharks.
DJ
Guest
The roosters will pick him up - for a song in 2017 and backend the next year :)
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
“I am accountable for myself and my actions and if I don’t address them now I will certainly ruin my career and more importantly my life and that of my family." You have ruined your career Ben - you can't be trusted and if your family had any sense they would show you the door along with a one way ticket to Thailand.....
Oliver Matthews
Expert
No sure - but he has a history of behaving in ways that have brought the game into disrepute and his wrist bandage act was clearly another example of how he doesn't think about how his actions will impact others. Showing support for a convicted murderer while at work is not something many employers will stand for. Sure he didn't deserve to be sacked but if that same thing had happened in mid season he would have been stood down. It was the Finals and so he wasn't. Like I say - no consistency.
andrew
Guest
Yes because the actions of a guy who retired more than a year before Ben Barba played his first NRL game of a nine year career are relevant how exactly?
Vortex
Guest
Big loss for Sharks, he was a huge part of their premiership charge this year. Will be interesting to see where he ends up. Dragons & Knights would be a good fit, Dragons desperately need a playmaker like him, and the Knights could use his experience at the back.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#Brendan In Rugby Union at the time they had zero 'illicit' testing so having NOT been picked up via ASADA testing then he would have gone completely under the radar. The comparison to Wendall Sailor is completely flawed. Wendall was under the ASADA program which applies to NRL and AFL equally. It all depends which 'drugs police' nab you as to which jurisdiction you fall under!! Yes - in the AFL he would have a 3rd strike to run. #Squidward - The AFL testing has never been 'in house'. It is fully outsourced to 'Dorevitch Pathology' and handled through the club doctors with confidentiality applied such that AFL HQ for example is able to report on the figures provided them but aren't in a position to 'hush up' anything. And the irony of 'hushed up' is that the AFL annually reports their results. The NRL doesn't. Never has. Granted the AFL results up to a time in recent years would have missed those players who got through the 'self reporting loophole' that has been closed. Out of season hair tests don't count but are used as a guide. So - I'm not suggesting any one number is all representative but some public accountability is better than none.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Actually I just read in an interview with the head of the integrity unit that he breached it last year. They must keep the first positive confidential.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
I went to Tassie once and the clubs in Launceston were still raging at 1030pm.. pretty wild bunch are the Van Diemans.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
I havent heard anyone prove to me otherwise and my search has come up fruitless. Second Strike after the gambling and drink yes, but first drug offence.
Albo
Guest
Yet another fine leopard & spots example , but this time the Club is cashing in without a scratch. It really has been a good year for the Sharks !
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Hahaha. Yep. Outskirts of Tassie are pretty wild. I wouldn't want to go there with a drug problem
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Fifita did nothing illegal