Ben Barba video, St Helens vs Castleford Super League: Ex-NRL star dazzles
WATCH: Ben Barba has left English fans raving over an incredible season-opening performance in the Super League, with a hand in SEVEN tries including two of his own - plus a monster tackle that destroyed a cocky winger.
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BEN Barba has scored a try just a few minutes in, notched another in the second half and laid on a raft of others in a stunning man-of-the-match start to the Super League season with St Helens.
Barba, who joined the Saints last year after an ill-fated stint in French rugby with Toulon, started at fullback in a clash with last year’s grand finalists Castleford and was outstanding in a romping 46-6 win at Langtree Park. Of St Helens’ eight tries, Barba had a hand in seven (scoring two) and also made a monster tackle on cocky winger Greg Eden.
WATCH BARBA’S MASTERCLASS IN THE VIDEOS BELOW!
Barba, the 2012 Dally M Medallist, began the season rated an 8-1 hope for Super League’s best and fairest award, the Man of Steel. His first-up performance had English fans (and others) raving, as he kept the tries flowing in St Helens’ home fixture.
5': TRY!!! - Ben Barba for Saints. Break down the left hand side and Percival finds Ben Barba! Great start! pic.twitter.com/z3cA2K3oEt
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) February 2, 2018
Ben Barba such a smart player. Great try!
— David Cass (@DavidCass_) February 2, 2018
Gonna get a purple on Ben Barba for Man Of Steel this year. Easy money
— Anthony Tognola (@AnthonyTognola1) February 2, 2018
Rumour has it that Ben Barba will emerge as the finest talent in Super League this year. Good way to start with @Saints1890 opening try and assist in Tai's second. #BenBarba
— Ross Heppenstall (@rosshmediaman) February 2, 2018
He's the early-season favourite for Man of Steel and Ben Barba has scored @Saints1890 first try and helped create one for @JZTaia to put them into a 10-0 lead against @CTRLFC
— Ian Laybourn (@ILaybourn) February 2, 2018
Ben Barba already a cut above
— Kaine Greenwood (@kaineg23) February 2, 2018
2018 Ben Barba is looking like 2012 Ben Barba for St Helens right now.
— Corey Rosser (@CoreyRosser23) February 2, 2018
Not exactly an original prediction but @benbarba is going to be an absolute gem for @StHelensRLFC this season.
— William Morecombe (@adoptedgog) February 2, 2018
Ben Barba playing like he did for Cronulla. Player🤙
— Matt Thornton (@Choco_313) February 2, 2018
Ben Barba is the best player in @SuperLeague Any match with him in it is well worth watching
— Ian Garside (@IanGarside1) February 2, 2018
Top performance. Ben Barba is tormenting them.
— Darren (@DH2266) February 2, 2018
And it wasn’t just in attack that Barba did the business, with a tackle on Tigers winger Eden midway through the second half also wowing fans. Eden found some space and gave the little fullback a cocky face - only for Barba to smash him into touch.
Ben Barba. What a player. Just picked Eden up and threw him over the touchline. 😂
— Steve Fraser (@Saintbarca) February 2, 2018
Brilliant from Ben Barba ðŸ‘
— Super League Clubs🉠(@SLClubs) February 2, 2018
Ben Barba just absolutely schooled Greg Eden😂
— Steven Waudby (@swaudby98) February 2, 2018
Recreation of Ben Barba tackling Greg Eden. pic.twitter.com/BSPNZjeQD7
— Daniel Thomas (@TLW1Dan) February 2, 2018
Then came his second try a minute later, pushing the score to 32-6.
Ben Barba over for his second, five star pic from @plattyphoto pic.twitter.com/T8sGogHlU6
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) February 2, 2018
Any young FB watch those 2 pieces of play by Ben Barba. Too strong on a 1/1 with Greg Eden and dragging him into touch. And then following Zeb Taia expecting pass and finishing with a flourish.
— philkinsella (@philkinsella) February 2, 2018
BREAKING Ben Barba incredibly wins man of steel after 1 game#SLStHCas #SuperLeague
— Aaron Wallace (@wallyscr) February 2, 2018
Barba laid on a hat-trick try for Mark Percival in the 78th minute to ice a thumping win and earn man of the match honours.
🉠Ben Barba - Man Of The Match#SLStHCas #DifferentLeague pic.twitter.com/RUYhAZPjle
— Betfred (@Betfred) February 2, 2018
Brilliant display from @Saints1890 Ben Barba is a freak. @MrSaint1873 @ianrigby81
— Simon Murray (@simon030667) February 2, 2018
Ben Barba ridiculous tonight 😱
— cal cotterill (@callumcotteril1) February 2, 2018
Blinder for Ben Barba who looks like he will be a key player this season. Impressive start by @Saints1890
— Doug Thomson (@DougieTown) February 2, 2018
Barba’s performance will no doubt make NRL clubs sit up and take notice. The former Bulldogs, Broncos and Sharks player was exiled from the NRL after testing positive to cocaine in the wake of Cronulla’s 2016 grand final win.
Originally published as Ben Barba video, St Helens vs Castleford Super League: Ex-NRL star dazzles