Ben Barba refuses to rule out NRL return after Toulon stint despite drugs ban

BEN Barba’s manager has left the NRL door open if his French rugby experiment fails, but dual international Mat Rogers says he could be back soon.

BEN Barba’s manager has left the NRL door open if the fullback’s French rugby experiment fails, but dual international Mat Rogers says he could return sooner.

Barba’s agent Chris Orr told The Daily Telegraph the fullback has refused to rule out a comeback to rugby league.

The former Dally M winner has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Toulon, but there are no guarantees he’ll succeed.

If Barba decides to return to the NRL via Cronulla or another club, his 12-week drug ban will still stand.

This means he would have to find an alternative income to support his family until the ban ended.

“The NRL have said the door is not closed for Ben,” Orr said.

Ben Barba before last year’s grand final. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“If he wants to return to rugby league he can, but he’ll have to go and pack shelves at Woolworths while he serves his 12-week ban.

“But he can’t play any other sport and he has got to stay on the sidelines.

“That’s the rules.

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“But Ben has been unemployed since October. We’ve all got financial commitments and if you are unemployed for too long everyone comes to bear at your front door.

“That’s the circumstances we find ourselves in.”

Barba may be confident of succeeding in rugby, but Rogers has warned the flyer it won’t be easy.

And the Sharks legend should know.

Rogers spent five seasons in rugby, including 45 Tests for Australia, and fully understands the pressure to perform in the 15-man code.

Matt Rogers defected to rugby union before returning the NRL with Gold Coast.

He says this expectation is particularly prevalent in Toulon, where Barba will be expected to deliver from day one.

“They don’t pull any punches over there,” Rogers said.

“They’ll give it to you if you don’t perform, the fans and the owner.

“There will be a lot expected of Benny and he isn’t going to have a lot of time to adjust.

“It’s the little things like not isolating yourself and you don’t want to get caught on your own.

“The things that don’t really matter in rugby league, matter in rugby union.”

Barba was hoping to make his Toulon debut in next week’s Brisbane Tens but ARU CEO Bill Pulver blocked the move.

“There is an agreement among all of the codes that if there are existing sanctions in place in one code and the player chooses to play another code, it is always that we carry those sanctions across,” Pulver said.

James O’Connor currently plays for Toulon.

“Australian Rugby’s policy is to respect and recognise disciplinary action taken by other sports.”

Rogers believes Barba has the athleticism to thrive in rugby.

“Benny will have a few challenges, but I’m sure he’ll be fine because I believe he is a world-class athlete,” he said.

“I think he’ll be like a little Shane Williams, who was a little gun player for Wales.

“Beating the first man in rugby is so important and Benny can do that to get his team on the front foot.”

As a passionate Cronulla man, Rogers would have loved Barba to stay at the Sharks.

However, he also understands the fullback need to put his young family first.

“You can’t really blame him if he needs the money and he has got kids,” he said.

“It’s sad that he won’t be at the Sharks considering he is a bloody brilliant player, but I think he will be good in rugby.”