Cronulla Sharks players hold surprise farewell Ben Barba and his family

BEN Barba’s former Cronulla Sharks teammates - led by Paul Gallen - sprung a surprise farewell for the fullback and his family ahead of his move to France.

Cronulla Sharks players hold a surprise farewell dinner for Ben Barba at Cronulla RSL. Picture: Brett Costello

HIS stay in the Shire was short and eventful, but that didn’t stop Ben Barba’s former Cronulla teammates showing what the grand final-winning fullback means to them.

The Sharks players, led by captain Paul Gallen, sprung a surprise farewell for Barba and his family at the Cronulla RSL ahead of his departure to France to take up a two-and-a-half-year deal with Toulon.

The 27-year-old’s two-season stay with Cronulla helped the club break its 50-year wait for a premiership, but the celebrations were short-lived after he tested positive to cocaine just days after winning the NRL title.

After being sacked and re-signed by Cronulla in the space of a couple of months, but going without an income since November as he awaited his contract to be registered with the NRL, Barba made the decision for his family to accept a lucrative $2.5 million contract to join European giants Toulon.

On Monday he was taken aback at the reception he received from his former teammates.

Cronulla Sharks players hold a surprise farewell dinner for Ben Barba at Cronulla RSL. Picture: Brett Costello

“It’s amazing what a grand final win does,” Barba said. “But even before that, this team will always hold a special place with all of us as a group.

“It’s good to get a bit of a farewell. It was a bit of a surprise.

“It was just good to see all the boys and say their farewells.

“I might be able to see the boys next week when they’re at the World Club Challenge.”

BIG BUCKS: Holmes signs lucrative Sharks deal

It’s been a whirlwind week-and-a-half for Barba, who leaves for France on Tuesday.

“I’ve got another journey ahead now. I only wish the Sharks and all these bunch of boys who are such great mates of mine the best of luck this year,” he said.

“It’s sort of happening pretty fast.

“I’m looking forward to it. Obviously it’s a bit daunting, leaving the family behind again for a month — leaving my poor old missus to look after the girls in the house.”

But he’s hopeful he won’t be separated from partner Ainslie and his four daughters for too long as he prepares to master a new code.

“They’ll come over hopefully in about four weeks when I get settled in,” he said.

“It’ll be good to have them over there as soon as possible.”

Despite his controversial exit from the game, and the club, Barba said he held no bad feelings towards Cronulla.

“Obviously there’s going to be negative feedback from some of the locals that think I’m doing them the dirty. Some of the feedback I’ve got while walking around here after news has come out has been pretty good, just saying thank you for everything. Not just what I’ve done but us as a playing group has done for this community.

“It’s been pretty special. I’m very happy and privileged and honoured to have been a part of it.”

Gallen, who organised the surprise dinner, spoke of the respect the players have for Barba.

Ben Barba after the grand final win. Picture: Mark Evans

“We’re really going to miss him,” Gallen said.

“It’s only a few months back we won a premiership together and we’ve had a tight bond.

“So it was nice for all the boys, the wives and families to get together to say goodbye.

“We would love to have had him this year and longer but these things can happen.

“But he’s ready for the next stage of his career.”

Barba still faces a 12-match drugs ban if he were to return to the NRL, but didn’t close the door on a comeback.

“You never say never,” he said. “Who knows what happens? We’ve got to take what’s in front of us. No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow.

“I’ll just see where this takes me and hopefully it works out.”