Ben Barba risks being suspended for entire 2017 season if he plays rugby in France

BEN Barba’s battle to pay his mortgage drove his decision to go to France, but the suspended NRL star may have put his 2017 season in jeopardy with the move.

The NRL was in discussions with the Cronulla Sharks about advancing contract payments to superstar fullback Ben Barba to pay his mortgage and family bills while serving his 12-week suspension.

Still his agents Chris and Gavin Orr went ahead to organise a short term contract with French rugby club Toulon which has left his NRL career for the remainder of 2017 in jeopardy.

There is a school of thought at Moore Park headquarters that Barba’s suspension should now start when he returns home from France.

Otherwise it would open a loophole for other suspended players to do the same thing.

Ben Barba may put his 2017 season in jeopardy if he accepts a contract to play rugby in France.

Barba’s contract with the Sharks to return in round 12 has yet to be registered by the NRL. So legally, he is not contracted as a Cronulla Sharks NRL player.

The NRL has in the past stopped contracted players from playing in other codes.

Benji Marshall once wanted to have a short off-season in Japanese rugby but was knocked back.

Barba’s problem is that he cannot survive and support his young family without a weekly cash flow.

He has little in savings and has previously undergone treatment for a gambling problem.

The Cronulla Sharks board is meeting this morning to discuss their next move.

Obviously they will be guided by whatever ruling integrity unit boss Nick Weeks comes up with.

The concern now for the NRL is Barba’s immediate welfare treatment.

They had been in discussions with the Sharks for weeks about an ongoing follow-up program to his recent treatment at a Thailand rehabilitation treatment.

Cronulla Sharks CEO Lyall Gorman.

Moving to a non-English speaking country is unlikely to be helpful.

The Sharks had no idea Barba was planning the move to French rugby.

Not until Shane Flanagan’s mobile phone rang at 10pm last night with agent Chris Orr breaking the news that his premiership winning fullback was heading overseas.

In fairness to Barba, he was been waiting for at least two weeks to get a contract registered with the NRL for the second half of the season.

His manager tried to contact NRL CEO Todd Greenberg yesterday but couldn’t get through.

So with mounting bills to pay, he chose the short term option of playing rugby in France.

Whether it’s the right long term decision only time will tell.