Paul Green backs Ben Barba to buy into North Queensland’s culture
COWBOYS coach Paul Green says controversial Dally M star Ben Barba could fit into North Queensland’s culture despite his checkered past.
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COWBOYS coach Paul Green says controversial Dally M star Ben Barba could fit into North Queensland’s culture despite his checkered past.
The 2012 Dally M Medal champion has spent the past two seasons out of the NRL after being hit with a 12-week suspension following two positive drugs tests.
Barba tested positive to cocaine in the days after Cronulla’s 2016 premiership victory and decided to head overseas instead of serve his suspension in the NRL.
The 29-year-old is the hot favourite to win the Super League’s Man of Steel award this year following a sensational season with title contenders St Helens.
The Mackay product has sought a release on compassionate grounds to return to Australia and will make his NRL return with the Cowboys in 2019.
Despite his drugs issues, Green said Barba could be a handy addition to the Cowboys in the post-Johnathan Thurston era.
“We’ve got a pretty strong group up here and he wants to play for the club if we were to get to that point,” he said.
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“Anyone that pulls on a jersey has got to buy into our culture and I’m sure he will if we get to that point.
“He’s had a pretty good year in Super League. We can only go on that and he has done everything asked of him there.”
Barba’s one-year deal will open the door for the Cowboys to secure Sharks No. 1 Valentine Holmes for 2020.
That scenario could see Barba return to Cronulla or shift into the halves alongside Michael Morgan if the Cowboys cannot settle on a suitable No. 6 next year.
The Cowboys have struggled at fullback this season with Green using Lachlan Coote, Te Maire Martin, Ben Hampton and Morgan in the No. 1 jersey.
“Fullback is a position we’re looking at,” Green said.
“We’re looking at a number of possibilities.
“Ben is a great player and if we could work something out there it would be good.
“It’s a position we need to look at.”
Thurston will play his final NRL match before retiring against the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.
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Originally published as Paul Green backs Ben Barba to buy into North Queensland’s culture