Todd Greenberg says there’s no place for Ben Barba in rugby league

NRL boss Todd Greenberg says it’s time for Ben Barba “to find a new vocation” after confirming the disgraced rugby league star has been officially deregistered from the game.

Ben Barba has been deregistered by the NRL after an integrity unit investigation found he had been involved in a physical altercation with his partner.

Greenberg said he did not see a time “or any time in the future” when Barba would be welcomed back to the game.

The finding came after the integrity unit viewed CCTV footage of the incident involving Barba and his partner at a Townsville casino over the Australia Day weekend.

Barba is alleged to have assaulted his partner and mother of his four children, Ainslie Currie, and is being investigated by police.

“I need to be a little careful here because this will now form a police investigation which is currently ongoing,” Greenberg said.

“But it was a physical altercation and that’s all I needed to see and all I needed to be told in order to make the decision we’ve made.

“I can’t see a time at anytime in the future that he’ll be welcomed back.

“In the jurisdiction that I uphold there’s no place for him.

“It’s time for Ben Barba to find a new vocation.”

Ben Barba has been deregistered by the NRL. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Greenberg acknowledged it was a big decision to deregister Barba.

“These decisions affect people’s livelihoods,” Greenberg said.

“They affect families, children. They’re big moments and you want to make sure you get them right.

“This is an enormous outcome because this is a guy that now loses his livelihood and his career in the game.

“It’s a very clear message for a lot of players in our sport that it’s a great privilege to play rugby league, to put a jersey on, to earn a significant income which they deserve as footballers.

“But it comes with real responsibility. And if you start to step outside the crease, you’re going to put your livelihood at risk. This is a prime example.

“If you’re going to earn an income through rugby league and you’re going to play in the NRL, it’s a great privilege. Understand the risks that come with that.

“If you don’t want to associate with those risks, find another job. We’re not asking you to play if you don’t want to.

“It’s an absolute privilege. If you want to come in, enjoy the benefits that go with being an NRL player but stand up to the responsibilities that come with it (as well).”

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg. Picture: Adam Yip

This latest development comes after the English RFL and Rugby Australia confirmed it would respect any ban issued against him by the NRL.

Barba, 29, was already on his last chance after being forced out of the NRL in 2016 after recording his second illicit drugs strike.

He subsequently moved to French rugby before embarking on successful stint with St Helens. However, the RFL have confirmed it would also enforce any punishment meted out by the NRL.

“We will always uphold any ban imposed by the NRL under a reciprocal agreement between RFL and the NRL,” a statement read.

RA boss Raelene Castle didn’t want to comment specifically about Barba’s situation but said there was also an unwritten agreement between codes regarding banned players.

“In relation to players who have received bans from one sport there is an etiquette agreement that you can’t then just go from rugby league to rugby union and play the next week,” Castle said.

“I would expect that anything in relation to a situation like that, that would stand because when you’re talking about issues at that level we need to make sure the codes are supporting each other.”

Originally published as Todd Greenberg says there’s no place for Ben Barba in rugby league