Barba’s ball skills headed to Redcliffe

Marmin bids farewell to Jets, joins star-studded Dolphins in quest for second Queensland Cup crown.

Mackay product Marmin Barba (left) has left the Ipswich Jets to join rival Intrust Super Cup club, Redcliffe Dolphins.

HE ONCE knocked back the Cutters to remain an Ipswich Jet – at the time, seemingly for the rest of his Intrust Super Cup playing days.

But Marmin Barba, one of Mackay’s greatest rugby league exponents never to play NRL, is on the move. Unfortunately, not home to Mackay.

The livewire outside back confirmed via Instagram he will leave Ipswich, the team he helped to the 2015 Intrust Super Cup premiership, after five seasons, 91 games and 524 career points.

The 28 year old will take his considerable scoring talents to Dolphin Stadium next season when he links with Redcliffe for the 2020 campaign.

Dolphins coach Adam Mogg told the Daily Mercury the club did not pursue Barba’s signature, rather both parties met in the middle and agreed to put pen to paper.

“We didn’t chase him, but obviously his skillset is an asset we like. He was interested and it just evolved from there,” Mogg explained.

Barba will link with former Jets teammate Ben Shea, who also made the move to Redcliffe in the off-season after two fruitful years in Ipswich.

Mogg said Shea, who reprised his standing as one of the premier forwards in the competition when with the Jets, would bring experience and flexibility to the Dolphins.

With Barba, Mogg anticipates a different impact.

“He’s got plenty of speed; there’s excitement from that aspect,” the coach said.

“He has the ability and also that X-Factor. Being able to play different types of footy will give us a different dynamic to our team.”

The Dolphins, a perennial Intrust Super Cup finalist, bowed out in Week 2 of the 2019 post-season and a lack of depth in the outside backs was a root cause of concern.

In Barba, Mogg believed that box has now been ticked.

“He’s come here with a goal. He wants to win the competition. He feels we can create that environment for him to do that,” Mogg said.

“We’re excited. He’ll give us depth in our outside back which we didn’t have last season.”

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